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Big Ten Football: Post-spring power rankings for 2021 season

By Chris Peterson

Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Trayvon Wilburn (51) douses head coach Ryan Day with gatorade after defeating the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Trayvon Wilburn (51) douses head coach Ryan Day with gatorade after defeating the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

If there is one team that is able to push Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship in 2021, it might be the Wisconsin Badgers.

Not only does Wisconsin return a talented roster, but the Badgers also have a pretty talented quarterback in Graham Mertz, which is a dangerous combo for the rest of the Big Ten.

Wisconsin was hit hard by COVID-19 last year and finished with a 4-3 record. Mertz completed 61 percent of his passes while throwing nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

In addition to Mertz at quarterback, Wisconsin is going to be stout on the offensive line (big shock) and has running back Jalen Berger back in the fold after he averaged five yards per attempt last season. That doesn’t even include Jake Ferguson and Kendric Pryor, the two leading pass catchers from 2020, who are also returning.

The defense also returns a ton of talent at all three levels, plus defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is a rising star.

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