Big Ten Football 2018 preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

By Brad Weiss | Aug 20, 2018

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins waits for the snap during the third quarter of Ohio State's 31-20 win over Michigan during a college football game on November 25, 2017, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, IL – JULY 24: A detailed view of the Big Ten Championship Trophy along with both the Big Ten West and East Division’s Championship Trophy’s is seen during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Big Ten has some of the best talent college football has to offer, and the 2018 season should be full of excitement and surprises.

The college football season is upon us, as games will kick off later this week. When it comes to the entire college football landscape, there are few conferences with as much history and success as the Big Ten.

From Ohio State to Michigan to Penn State to Michigan State and Wisconsin, the conference is home to five teams who have legit aspirations of not only winning the conference championship but of making the College Football Playoff too.

Before the season even started, fans have seen plenty of drama in the conference with Urban Meyer and DJ Durkin placed on administrative leave that threaten to put a major wrench in the plans of Ohio State and Maryland.

Here is the Big Ten Preview for the upcoming football season.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) looks for a opening in the line during the Big 10 Championship game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes on December 2, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Offensive Player of the Year: Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor

Last season, the Wisconsin Badgers rolled through the Big Ten West Division, going a perfect 9-0 under head coach Paul Chryst. One huge factor for the team was a freshman running back named Jonathan Taylor, who took the entire conference by storm in year one.

Overall, Taylor showed an incredible blend of speed and power, rushing so well that he was named a First-Team selection within the conference. Taylor rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in 2017, finding the end zone 13 times, and tied the FBS record for fastest to get to 1,000 yards on a season, doing it in seven games.

Heading into 2018, the offense is going to be based around Taylor again, and you have to think the running back is up for the challenge. He has had the same impact as Saquon Barkley had at Penn State in the Big Ten, and this fall, it would not be surprising if he not only rushed for over 2,000 yards, but was hoisting the Heisman Trophy when it is all said and done.