ESPN’s FPI predicts 2021 B1G Championship

Will anyone topple Ohio State in the B1G this season? That’s still the question on everyone’s mind heading into 2021.

The Buckeyes have been on a roll, capturing four straight conference titles since 2017. Ohio State also has five total titles since the conference realigned into East and West divisions prior to the 2014 season.

In fact, a team out of the West has not captured the conference title. Michigan State in 2015 and Penn State in 2016 are the other champions out of the East. Wisconsin last captured the B1G title in 2012 as a member of the Leaders Division.

As teams begin to open fall practices, ESPN’s Football Power Index has broken down the odds to win the East and West divisions and the conference championship.

In the East and conference as a whole, Ohio State is still the team to beat despite breaking in a new quarterback. Penn State, Indiana, and Michigan remain long shots but are the teams most likely to compete in the division.

Things are much different in the West, though Wisconsin is the leading favorite. Iowa and Northwestern are also given solid odds at advancing to Indianapolis.

Below is how the FPI expects the divisions to shake out, along with the best odds to win the conference outright:

Chance to win the B1G East

• Ohio State – 83.6%
• Penn State – 9.6%
• Indiana – 3.0%
• Michigan – 2.6%
• Michigan State – 0.8%
• Maryland – 0.2%
• Rutgers – 0.1%

Chance to win the B1G West

• Wisconsin – 43.9%
• Iowa – 24.1%
• Northwestern – 19.0%
• Nebraska – 4.6%
• Purdue – 4.4%
• Minnesota – 3.6%
• Illinois – 0.5%

Chance to win the B1G

• Ohio State – 70.1%
• Wisconsin – 11.0%
• Penn State – 5.8%
• Iowa – 5.2%
• Remaining teams all below 5% chance to win the conference

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.