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Big Ten Football: 2016 season preview and predictions

By David Rouben

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes shakes hands with head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines after a 42-13 Ohio State win at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes shakes hands with head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines after a 42-13 Ohio State win at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Apr 16, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer leads the Scarlet and Gray teams onto the field prior to the spring game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer leads the Scarlet and Gray teams onto the field prior to the spring game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer

The coach that will garner the most attention is Jim Harbaugh, and rightly so. A lot is expected of him after he brought a team from 5-7 to 10-3 in his first year. With a full season under his belt, and a top five recruiting class, Michigan is expected to be the top team in the Big Ten.

But Harbaugh isn’t as well regarded as Urban Meyer is. If Michigan finishes above Ohio State, few can say that they didn’t see it coming. But if Ohio State does trump Michigan, it’ll be because of the coaching staff.

While Ohio State has a top-five recruiting class just like Michigan, they will experience a lot of roster turnover. And it’s still up to Meyer to bring out the best in his recruits.

That’s not to mention their treacherous schedule this season. Their toughest game of the season will arguably be during non-conference play, when they have to travel to face Oklahoma. A loss could put them behind the eight ball before the conference schedule even starts, and when it does, they will be treated to hostile environments in Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

And yet, most people are confident that they can navigate through it. That’s because Meyer may well go down as one of the two best coaches in college football history, and because he has turned the Buckeyes into a well-oiled machine.

Last season, when they had a roster full of NFL ready players and were a unanimous favorite across the board, they failed to live up to expectations when they missed out on the College Football Playoff. If Meyer can guide this young team to a conference championship and a spot in the Playoff, it will be regarded as Meyer’s greatest season ever as a coach. Even if he doesn’t, finishing with an 11-1 or 10-2 record would be beyond what’s expected of them.

Next: Biggest game of the year