3 Biggest Threats to Ohio State Repeating as Big Ten Champs in 2020

The Ohio State University Buckeyes have dominated the Big Ten Championship since 2017, and they seem poised to take the league's top honor again this season.

It won't be an easy path, but if the Buckeyes can get past these obstacles, they'll be holding that Big Ten trophy for the fourth season in a row.

3. Loss of Key Players

Former Buckeye Chase Young lines up during the Big Ten Football Championship. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Buckeyes lost a group of stars from last season's championship team. Chase Young, Jeffrey Okudah, and Damon Arnette were all selected in the top 20 of the NFL draft, with Young and Okudah going second and third overall. While the Buckeyes still have stud QB Justin Fields, they'll need to fill in the holes around him quickly to stay at the top of the Big Ten.

2. Penn State

Penn State head coach James Franklin celebrates during the Cotton Bowl against Memphis. / Tom Pennington/Getty Images

On paper, Ohio State is a better team than the Nittany Lions, but James Franklin has been a great success with Penn State and he's hungry to topple the Buckeyes' reign. The Lions have an experienced squad this season and two potential options at quarterback. They're somewhat unpredictable, and that's what makes this rivalry so dangerous for the Buckeyes this year.

1. An Up and Down Schedule

Ohio State and Michigan face off in Ann Arbor in 2019. / Leon Halip/Getty Images

At a glance, the Buckeyes' schedule doesn't seem particularly difficult, but we think it's going to be very mentally challenging for the team. They are constantly back and forth between complete non-threats and important challengers, which means their mindset as team will need to be constantly fluctuating. If they can't find some stability, they could end up losing games that shouldn't have been close.