Fansided

College football rankings 2018: FanSided preseason Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 30: QB Alex Hornibrook (12) hands the ball off to RB Jonathan Taylor (23) (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 30: QB Alex Hornibrook (12) hands the ball off to RB Jonathan Taylor (23) (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

I’m not ready to dub the Wisconsin Badgers the best team in the Big Ten, but they have the potential to beat the Buckeyes despite falling short of the conference crown a year ago.

Playing in the lesser of two divisions in the Big Ten may be considered an advantage as far as conference titles go, but the Badgers must still run through the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State or Penn State in the championship game if they want to earn their first playoff berth.

Paul Chryst, an incredibly underrated head coach, is 34-7 in three years with Wisconsin but he hasn’t reached that ultimate goal. The 2018 version of the Badgers is his best chance to finish in that top four and face off against the nation’s elite.

Although Alex Hornibrook has his issues with throwing mechanics, he’s been working hard all offseason to improve and be more than just a game manager at quarterback. Having Jonathan Taylor behind him will take the pressure off and give him a solid check-down option when he runs into trouble. Taylor may be the Big Ten’s best chance for Heisman as well.

And the Wisconsin defense is, well, elite yet again. The Badgers have boasted top defenses in college football for years, and this season will be no different.