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Big Ten football 2019 season preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

ByJordan Alexis|
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins runs up the sideline during second quarter action 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)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins runs up the sideline during second quarter action 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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MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 03: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball in the third quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 03: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball in the third quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Will a Big Ten football team make it back to the College Football Playoff? Will it be Ohio State or Michigan or can a third team enter the picture?

2018 was a weird season for the Big Ten, they entered the year with almost four possible candidates for the playoffs but were edged out for the second straight season. Now in 2019, they will look to re-establish themselves and prove Big Ten football is as good as it gets in the country.

Eight teams are in the preseason top 25, so the conference is shaping up to be as competitive as ever. Michigan and Ohio State continue to be the headlining programs in the East, while the West is completely wide open.

And there are so many questions surrounding multiple teams that it is hard to keep up.

How is Ohio State going to look with Ryan Day taking over for Urban Meyer?

Is this finally Michigan’s year?

And Will Nebraska live up to the hype?

Let’s take on some of these questions as we preview the Big Ten for the 2019 season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor

Last year Dwayne Haskins took the entire Big Ten by storm throwing for over 4800 yards and 50 touchdowns, which cast a shadow on how great Johnathan Taylor was. The Wisconsin running back finished with over 2000 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns despite being the only option on offense. Overall, Taylor has over 4,000 yards for his career which is already fifth in school history in just two seasons of play.

Taylor was not just the best running back in the Big Ten, but arguably the best back in the entire country with Clemson’s Travis Etienne. For a player that is 220 lbs, Taylor has an unreal level of athleticism that brings an explosive dynamic to the Badgers physical run game. He is a bruising runner between the tackles who rarely goes down on the first contact. Then when he’s in the open field, Taylor has great lateral movement and legit breakaway speed.

Expect much of the same from Taylor as we know the Badgers are going to feed him early and often. I don’t see another quarterback being able to put up the insane numbers Haskins did in 2018, so there will be no one to usurp Taylor. He could very easily be a 2000 yard rusher again in 2019 which may also earn him a Heisman invitation depending on Wisconsin’s record.