Big Ten Football 2017 preview

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 08: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the game at Beaver Stadium on October 8, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Maryland 38-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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The 2017 Big Ten football season is right around the corner, but which teams and players will stand out?

The college football season is right around the corner and there’s plenty to look forward to around the country. There will always be a debate about which conference reigns supreme, but one that is surely on the rise is the Big Ten.

We hear about the SEC and ACC plenty, but the Big Ten has a handful of programs that have been getting back on the winning track. In fact, Penn State can finally be considered an elite team after fighting mediocrity for the past few seasons under James Franklin. The head coach entered the 2016 season on the hot seat, but put together an 11-win campaign and near-playoff berth.

Michigan and Ohio State are back to having a classic rivalry, although the Wolverines haven’t been able to do much, in terms of winning, since Jim Harbaugh took over. Still, Michigan can be considered a perennial top-10 team under Harbaugh and Ohio State is, well, it’s still Ohio State under Urban Meyer.

Wisconsin has been consistently competing for Big Ten titles out of the West division and the Badgers truly don’t get the respect they deserve. Watch out for them in 2017. Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska are on that second-tier in the West while Minnesota could be on the rise under P.J. Fleck.

Lastly, you can never count out Michigan State and Mark Dantonio. Despite a horrid 3-9 campaign in 2016, the Spartans have been one of the winningest teams in the conference over the past five years — including a couple Big Ten titles. They’re still the one Big Ten program that has given Meyer fits.

It’s time to take a look at what the 2017 Big Ten football season has in store for us.