Big Ten Media Days: Why Wisconsin Has a Free Pass to the Leaders Division Title

With all of the college football scandals taking place, particularly the mess that is hanging over Penn State, there are truly no winners when everything is said and done.

Although on the football field, I can't think of another team that has a few victories on its belt before the season even kicks off in September.

The Wisconsin Badgers only return 11 starters from a year ago; they lost their starting quarterback, top wide receiver, key offensive linemen and difference-makers on the defensive side of the ball. There are certainly questions surrounding this team heading into fall camp, but even with those concerns, the Badgers are a great bet to return to the Big Ten championship and defend its title.

Simply put, the top two threats in the Leaders Division are no longer threats for the 2012 season. Sure, the Badgers will still have to play those two teams this season, but both Penn State and Ohio State are banned from postseason play in 2012 (Penn State for much longer, but you get the idea).

This of course not only eliminates them from contending for a bowl game, but also removes any chance of them winning the Big Ten title.

That leaves Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois and Indiana eligible for the Leaders Division.

You can automatically scratch off Indiana, a team that only won one game last season and has barely enough talent to compete in the Sun Belt Conference. Illinois has talent, but also a first-year head coach and has been as inconsistent as a team can possibly get the past several years.

Purdue is a team that I would be concerned about, as the Boilermakers do return nine starters on both sides of the ball. They also showed potential last season, knocking off Illinois, Ohio State and losing by five points to Penn State in Happy Valley.

The confidence is certainly running high in West Lafayette, but can a program that has only reached one bowl game in the last four years really make the leap to the Big Ten title game?

Wisconsin, on the other hand, was just there last season.

It has one of the better running backs in the country in Montee Ball, a guy who rushed for 1,923 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. The offensive line should remain strong with experience in the middle and it may have found its quarterback in Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien.

O'Brien wasn't great for the Terrapins, completing fewer than 60 percent of his passes and throwing 18 interceptions to 29 touchdowns in two seasons. But he was in a terrible situation and was never really given the chance to show what he was capable of; playing in an offense that consisted of mostly screens and checkdowns. He has the size at 6'3", the arm strength and the experience to really shine in this offense.

Before the season began, the Badgers were looking like a solid bet to return to the Big Ten Championship.

Now that Ohio State and Penn State are no longer around to give Wisconsin a run for its money, the Badgers are almost a lock to return to Lucas Oil Stadium to keep the Big Ten title in Madison.