Buckeyes back in charge despite unproven starter at quarterback

1. Ohio State (0-0): How good are the Buckeyes? They have four freshman quarterbacks who have never thrown a pass in a college game, yet OSU still should make the playoff.

2. Wisconsin (0-0): With Penn State and Notre Dame on the docket early, the Badgers have a chance to make a quick positive impression.

3. Penn State (0-0): The Nittany Lions got out of the gate last season with all the grace of a newborn giraffe, going 0-5 before winning its final four. That won’t happen again.

4. Indiana (0-0): If the Hoosiers can keep quarterback Michael Penix Jr. healthy they can make things interesting in the East.

5. Michigan (0-0): It sounds like a broken record, but Jim Harbaugh needs to show the Wolverines something or keep hearing about shaky job status.

6. Iowa (0-0): The Hawkeyes finished 2020 with six straight wins. Opening against Indiana, making it seven straight in 2021 will be a challenge.

7. Northwestern (0-0): The Wildcats should be 4-0 through September. If not, it could be a long season.

8. Minnesota (0-0): The Gophers open with the Buckeyes, who are 14-0 in conference games since Ryan Day took over. Good luck with that.

9. Illinois (1-0): Bret Bielema is back on a Big Ten sideline, but is there any magic left in the tank from his days at Wisconsin?

10. Purdue (0-0): With just eight wins over the past 24 games since shocking Ohio State in 2018, the Boilermakers need to remember how to win any game, not just big ones.

11. Nebraska (0-1): The NCAA has been sniffing around, and scandal is not a word that goes over well in Husker Nation.

12. Rutgers (0-0): Greg Schiano 2.0 worked out well for the Scarlet Knights last season. Does the upward trajectory continue?

13. Michigan State (0-0): The Spartans open with Northwestern and then travel to Miami two weeks later. They better beat Youngstown State in between.

14. Maryland (0-0): Taulia Tagovailoa threw for seven touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. That balance is not what the Terps need.

ADAM CAIRNS/COLUMBUS DISPATCH VIA IMAGN CONTENT SERVICES, LLC Ohio State quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis watches C.J. Stroud throw during training camp.