5 Surprise 2017 college football conference title contenders

There hasn’t been much turnover in Power-5 college football conference champions. Which teams have the best to change that in 2017?

The Alabama Crimson Tide will enter the 2017 season as a national title favorite. It’s almost a forgone conclusion that they’ll win at least the SEC with ease. If chalk doesn’t hold (it never does), which Power 5 teams are most likely to play Cinderella?

Requirements to be eligible as a surprise contender were simple: the team can not have one a conference title in the past three seasons.

Big 10 – Wisconsin

2014 – Ohio State
2015 – Michigan State
2016 – Penn State

The variety of champions over the past three years limits the options in the Big 10. This is one of those “anybody can win” situations that could pave the way for some interesting contenders come November. Why not the Wisconsin Badgers?

Wisconsin returns one of their two starting quarterbacks from last season, Alex Hornibrook. He’ll have the job to himself after sharing snaps almost 50-50 with senior Bart Houston in 2016. He and Houston combined for just eight more passing attempts that rushes from workhorse running back Corey Clement. He has departed for the NFL. That leaves sophomore Bradrick Shaw and possibly freshman 4-star signee Jonathan Taylor with the rushing duties for the Badgers.

Wisconsin was second in the Big 10 and seventh in the nation in total defense in 2016. They’re going to miss T.J. Watt desperately, but they aren’t lacking in talent. They return their leading tackler T.J. Edwards as well as a handful of experienced linebackers.

The Badgers have proven they can put just about anyone in the backfield and pound the rock. That’s going to be their key to making a conference title run in 2017. Wisconsin won’t escape the Big 10 unscathed, but neither will Ohio State or Penn State. Luckily, the draw the Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines at home. Their toughest true road contest could be at Nebraska.