Ohio State, Oregon Challenge Indiana for Big Ten Crown as AP's Top 2 Target Mendoza's Exit
Updated
Updated · Logan Daily News · Aug 20
Ohio State, Oregon Challenge Indiana for Big Ten Crown as AP's Top 2 Target Mendoza's Exit
3 articles · Updated · Logan Daily News · Aug 20
Summary
Ohio State and Oregon enter the Big Ten season as the main threats to defending champion Indiana, with both teams drawing the most preseason buzz after landing No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP poll.
Indiana still returns 10 starters and coach Curt Cignetti is 27-2 with two CFP appearances, but the Hoosiers must replace Heisman winner and No. 1 NFL draft pick Fernando Mendoza with TCU transfer Josh Hoover.
Ohio State faces the league's toughest schedule, including an Oct. 17 trip to Indiana and a Nov. 7 home game against Oregon—two matchups that could decide the Dec. 5 Big Ten title game and CFP seeding.
Oregon brings one of the nation's most experienced rosters, with quarterback Dante Moore leading six returning offensive starters and a defense that brings back eight starters.
Southern California, Michigan and Penn State headline the next tier of contenders, while Washington is viewed as a rising team in a conference that placed 8 schools in the preseason Top 25.