CHICAGO — When the league's football coaches and select players convene Monday and Tuesday here at the McCormick Place Convention Center for the two-day Big Ten Media Day event, there figures to be more buzz than past years.
That's what happens when nearly half of the 14 teams are in the conversation for college football's Top 25. While Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin are locks to be in the preseason polls, Northwestern, Nebraska and Iowa are also drawing Top 25 consideration.
One year after four Big Ten teams were selected to participate in College Football Playoff bowls, the league is expected to be just as strong in 2017.