Ohio State football: Big Ten should be a better conference

The Ohio State football program has been helping the Big Ten keep a high profile as a conference. This year, the conference should be better in general.

The Ohio State football team has dominated the Big Ten in recent years. They are clearly the best team in the conference and no team will come close to overtaking them in 2021 anyway. The Big Ten wasn’t very good as a whole last year though in the pandemic-shortened season.

In 2021, the conference should be better as a whole because the teams in the conference should be stronger. IU was a team on the rise last season and should be very good this year again now that they have a healthy quarterback in Michael Penix Jr.

Wisconsin is always strong and should be better this year now that they won’t have as many COVID issues. COVID really derailed their chances to do anything last year. They weren’t even able to play in the Big Ten Championship game because of losing a couple of games while they weren’t at full strength.

Penn State was awful last season. There’s no way they’re going to be as bad this season. That early IU loss really took the wind out of their sails. James Franklin should have his team in a better spot in 2021 now that they have a little bit more experience.

I wouldn’t call the Big Ten a top-tier conference in the country this season. They are still behind the SEC and the Pac-12 has gotten a little better too. But they won’t be complete garbage like the ACC or even the Big 12. They at least deserve a little respect as a collection of teams.

The Buckeyes don’t have to prop up the conference this year, but they will still be the stars of the show.