2015 CFB Preview: Big Ten

MotleySports went through the 2015 schedule and picked the winners of every game. The predicted Big 10 standings and five additional thoughts and awards are below.

Ohio State 12-0
Michigan State 11-1
Penn State 10-2
Maryland 7-5
Michigan 7-5
Indiana 6-6
Rutgers 4-8

Nebraska 9-3
Minnesota 8-4
Wisconsin 8-4
Northwestern 6-6
Illinois 5-7
Iowa 4-8
Purdue 3-9

Offensive Player of the Year: Ezekiel Elliot, RB, OSU
Defensive Player of the Year: Joey Bosa, DE, OSU

1. A tough OOC schedule and transition year, 7 wins should be considered a success for Michigan
2. Michigan State will finish 11-1 and be left out of playoff due to not winning conference, which will lead to talk of expanding the CFP and perhaps eliminating divisions in college football.
3. JT Barrett will start all 12 regular season games for OSU and be a Heisman trophy finalist, along with Ezekiel Elliot.
4. Minnesota coach Jerry Kill will be unable to win the division, despite the possible transition years in Nebraska and Wisconsin.
5. The Big Ten's streak of not having a QB drafted in the first round of the NFL draft will end with Penn St QB Christian Hackenberg and Michigan St QB Connor Cook.

Coaches fired: Darrell Hazell (Purdue), Tim Beckman (Illinois), Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Kyle Flood (Rutgers)