Time to look around the conference at running backs. The B1G lost some big hitters in Jonathan Taylor and JK Dobbins, so there is going to be some guessing here. On the pair and a spare theory I'm just listing the top three guys. All are considered but I don't feel like finding the fifth running back for every team. Feel free to correct any roster mistakes or note guys you think will make an impact I may have missed.
1. Ohio State: Trey Sermon, Master Teague, Marcus Crowley
Tough to beat them out, though this isn't a no-brainer at all. Master Teague was 5th in conference only rushing last year, and the only returning player with more than him is Indiana's Steve Scott. But Teague hurt his achilles in the spring and his availability in the fall is uncertain. Of course, they added Oklahoma transfer Trey Sermon, himself recovering from an ACL tear last year. Also also, Marcus Crowley is recovering from an ACL tear. In any event, lots of talent and a great system means someone will probably break out, even if there are a lot of question marks due to injury and inexperience.
2. Penn State: Journey Brown, Noah Cain, Devyn Ford
The knock on the group last year is that while talented, no one seemed to emerge as the guy. It looks like Journey Brown will get the chance to be the guy, as he had over 100 yards in 4 of their last five games. Rickey Slade decided to transfer, but the other guys are still big time recruits who have been good in limited carries.
3. Michigan: Zack Charbonnet, Hassan Haskins, Chris Evans
Should be a different vibe compared to last year, where it felt like Michigan forgot to field a running back at times. This year, on paper, they are in great shape. Chris Evans returns from a year long suspension. Charbonnet and Haskins were freshman runners who weren't all world but were still pretty good. All three guys being able to play along with the offense hopefully being settled makes their situation pretty comfortable.
4. Minnesota: Mohamed Ibrahim, Bryce Williams, Cam Wiley
Ibrahim is carrying a lot of weight here. He was the second guy last year, but was pretty effective, culminating in 140 yards against Auburn in the Outback bowl. The Gophs figure to run the ball a lot, and get just past Wisconsin on the basis that I'm reasonably confident in their starter.
5. Wisconsin: Nakia Watson, Garrett Groshek, Julius Davis
To tell you the truth I don't much about any of these guys. Not sure Wisconsin fans do either. But come on - it's Wisconsin. They are going to run for a bunch of yards and we will be talking about one of them being a great back.
6. Indiana: Stevie Scott, Sampson James, Tim Baldwin
A contender to rise higher than 6th - Stevie Scott is one of the best returning starters in the B1G who will have a great season if he can stay healthy, which he couldn't do last year. Sampson James was just fine in relief, but after him it gets very thin in Hoosier land. Combines with their quarterback, who was also quite talented but prone to injury, we might get a return to chaos from Indiana.
7. Iowa: Tyler Goodson, Mekhi Sargent, Ivory Kelly-Martin
Goodson and Sargent paired pretty well together last year. Will they lean more on them as they break in a new quarterback? Or will defenses feast on them because they don't have a quarterback? Kelly-Martin returns after a redshirt year and is a good depth option. Having multiple guys who have carried the ball a lot is good at this stage of the rankings.
8. Nebraska: Dedrick Mills, Wan'dale Robinson, Rahmir Johnson
Nebraska is a little tricky to rank because they get a lot of rushing from their quarterback and Robinson a part time running back. In any event, Nebraska is committed to running the ball and these guys are talented players. Mills had a productive season and is clearly entrenched as a starter.
9. Michigan State: Elijah Collins, Anthony Williams, Connor Heyward
A difficult group to rank. Elijah Collins had a lot of rushing yards last year, though it was mostly by default as he had 222 carries and the next running back had 38. He wasn't particularly great looking, but he was a freshman and MSU's offense was putrid and is now going to be something different. Connor Heyward barely played after a productive 2018 season and was going to transfer, but the coaching change changed his mind. It wouldn't be shocking to see this group look a lot better than how they are ranked, but we will have to see what the new MSU looks like.
10. Northwestern: Isaiah Bowser, Drake Anderson, Evan Hull
Another of these groups of guys who have had some production. Bowser wasn't bad two years ago but then had injuries last year. Anderson was somewhat productive last year in replacing him. I say somewhat because like MSU Northwestern was pretty inept offensively but is going to be under a new offensive coordinator, so it wouldn't be shocking to see a bit better production out of these guys.
11. Rutgers: Isaih Pacheco, Aaron Young, Kay'ron Adams
You may have heard of a Rutgers player, and if you have it might have been Pacheco, who looked the part of a Big Ten running back, unlike the rest of Rutgers. With Schiano and new offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson (you might have heard of his guy Chubba Hubbard last year) Rutgers will try to run the ball and might even do it.
12. Purdue: King Doerue, Alexander Horvath, Tirek Murphy
Not gonna lie I know nothing about these guys and put them here on the confidence that they are better than Maryland and Illinois.
13. Illinois: Ra'von Bonner, Mike Epstein, Chase Brown
No clue here. I've long felt the bottom was going to come out of Illinois this year, and one reason is they lost two senior runners last year. I saw someone say Mike Epstein was the presumptive starter, then saw his stats, where had 8 carries in one game last year, I guess due to injury (he had 60 carries the year before).
14. Maryland: Tayon Fleet-Davis, Jake Funk, Peny Boone
It feels like a million years ago when Maryland was loaded at running back. I'm not sure who these guys are or whether they are very good, but I'm betting on not very good.