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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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Conference Champions: Ohio State Buckeyes

One look at the Ohio State roster, and you can see why many feel they will be the team to beat in the Big Ten this season. The Buckeyes are going to be tasked with replacing J.T. Barrett at quarterback, but Dwayne Haskins is no slouch, and he has a bunch of weapons around him in his first year as the starter.

In the backfield, Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins are a dominant tandem, and they have one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten in Parris Campbell. On defense, the Buckeyes could have the best overall unit in the entire nation, as guys like Nick Bosa, Dre’Mont Jones should be very tough to compete with up front. In addition, Damon Arnette is one of the best cornerbacks in the country.

Ohio State does have to go on the road to take on Michigan State and Penn State, so their road to the top of the East Division will not be an easy one. However, they do get Michigan inside Ohio Stadium, and while that game is late in the year, the Buckeyes should be able to take care of business in front of their home fans.

There is no word as to what is going to happen with head coach Urban Meyer just yet, as the investigation should be concluded by the end of the week. That has cast a bit of a cloud over the program over the past few weeks, but the only thing the players can do is prepare themselves for the season opener against Oregon State.

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Ohio State will have to wait until later this week to learn the status of their head coach, but the team has forged on to prepare themselves for the 2018 season. They have the players to win no matter who is the head coach, but Meyer is a difference maker when he is stalking the sidelines, and they are going to need him if they want to bring home a national title.