Big Ten Football: Top 5 Candidates to Win Offensive Player of the Year
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones (12) talks with running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) during a press conference after beating the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking the top five candidates to walk away as the winner of the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year for the 2015 college football season.
Melvin Gordon was the no-brainer to win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Award last year after he ran for the second highest rushing total in FBS history with 2,587 and led the nation with 29 rushing touchdowns.
Related: Top 5 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Candidates
With Gordon now in the NFL, we could see another Wisconsin lay claim to the award and be the sixth Badgers back to win the honor, but there will be an Ohio State running back standing in his way in the form of Ezekiel Elliott. The Buckeyes back ran for 696 yards and eight touchdowns in the last three games of the year and won the MVP in the national championship game.
More from Big Ten
- Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
- Wisconsin vs. Purdue: How to watch, odds, injuries, weather, and history
- College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 3
- Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 3
- Ohio State football: 3 takeaways from win over Western Kentucky
And then there’s the issue with the quarterback situation in Columbus where J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones are competing with two-time OPOY winner Braxton Miller after the senior quarterback announced he will not transfer out of Ohio State.
There are other quarterbacks in the Big Ten outside of Ohio State and a pair of quarterbacks from the east division look to spoil the party at Ohio State and crash their coronation party and win the prestigious honor this year.
After reading through the five candidates to win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, please continue the conversation in the comments section below or give us your hottest sports take on social media and let us know your thoughts on the piece.
Next: Christian Hackenberg