Should the Ohio State Football team be the favorites to win the Big Ten?

The Ohio State football team has dominated the Big Ten for most of the last 10 years. In that span, the Buckeyes have won five Big Ten titles, including four in a row from 2017 to 2020. They are usually the favorites to win the conference every year.

But should that be the case next season? Ohio State is coming off a two-loss regular season for the first time since 2017 and didn’t win the Big Ten for the first time since 2016. They lost to TTUN for the first time since 2011. It seems like a lot would be trending downward for a team like that.

The answer to the question should be yes, but not by a lot. Ohio State still has the most talent of anyone in the conference, but the gap has closed. TTUN now has the confidence that they can compete with the Buckeyes year in and year out. Whether or not that’s reality is unclear.

Michigan State is also another team that has been getting better. Mel Tucker was rewarded for his efforts with a contract extension in the offseason. Ryan Day will have to contend with the two schools in his own division as the two other toughest teams in the conference.

The difference in this conversation is the Ohio State football team’s dynamic offense. They bring back some of the most skilled players in the country at the skill positions. They will have one of the best, if not the best, offense in the entire country once again.

I no longer expect total domination from the Buckeyes in this conference. The defense has too many question marks right now and until the coaching staff fixes that, doubt will remain. The talent is certainly there for domination though.

The 2022 season can’t come soon enough. It will be the most intriguing season for me in recent memory.