The College Football Playoff era has been a good time for the Big Ten. Consider what has happened the past two seasons. In 2014, Ohio State knocked off SEC kingpin Alabama and then won the national championship. Though denied a second title in ’15, the Big Ten was the only conference to place two teams in the top five (No. 3 Michigan State and No. 5 Iowa) of the final playoff rankings. Meanwhile, two of the league’s squads that didn’t get in the top five, Michigan and Ohio State, possess lasting potential as national powers by virtue of their iconic coaches and recruiting success. It wasn’t so long ago that the Big Ten was derided as a slow, stodgy league that lacked the talent and athleticism to compete with the SEC. That perception hasn’t been extinguished over the course of two years, but the Big Ten has elevated its standing by succeeding on the sport’s biggest stage. However, that shift in stature will last only as long as the on-field results match. …
Continue Reading: 2016 Big Ten spring football primer: Key storylines for each team
