Five questions surrounding Big Ten football at the onset of the 2016 season: 1. Can Ohio State replace eight starters on each side of the ball and still win the East? This may be one of the biggest challenges of Urban Meyer’s coaching career, but quarterback J.T. Barrett and center Pat Elflein on offense and middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan on defense provide the Buckeyes with a solid core to build around. The schedule is filled with challenges, including a road test at Oklahoma long before the regular season ends with a trip to Michigan State and a visit to the horseshoe by Michigan. 2. Is Iowa capable of repeating its 12-0 run through regular season and winning the West again? The chances of C.J. Beathard and Desmond King leading the Hawkeyes to another berth in the Big Ten Championship Game are realistic. No team in the division has as many key pieces returning as Iowa, which will build around a strong ground game and a defense which returns seven starters. History illustrates that another unbeaten regular season could be a challenge. The last time Iowa accomplished consecutive unbeaten seasons – 1921 and 1922. 3. What will it take for Michigan…
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