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84 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED BY ALAN KARPICK AKarpick@GoldandBlack.com T he Big Ten East Division is making its case at being the best in all of college football. And that designation may continue for quite some time. "Ohio State is now the it program in college football," said Tom Dienhart, an analyst for the Big Ten Network. "Every five years or so there is an it program, they cycle in and out. It's Ohio State's world and everybody is living in it." But that doesn't necessarily mean Urban Meyer's squad is going to run away and hide from everyone in the East Division. After all, Michigan State and Coach Mark Danto- nio are poised to be right there. And traditionally relevant programs such as Penn State and Michigan have reason for optimism. In the short term, the national story will be whom the Buckeyes choose for their quarterback. Former coach and current BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo says it's a luxury, and not a scourge, that won't be too big a challenge for a coach the caliber of Meyer. But DiNardo offers one important caveat worth considering as the Buckeyes pick between Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett. "A quarterback's reps with the second unit is different than reps with the No. 1," Dinardo said. "Urban has said it's going to be the numbers that will determine the start- er, but if I'm taking a rep with the second offense, and a second-team offense drops the ball and that's considered an incompletion or the protection is not as good, you have this dilemma (of wanting to evaluate all three guys with the first unit). "Yet, you can't wear out the first team's legs in camp. How do you give them equal opportunity with the 1s without wearing the 1s out? That will be Urban's challenge, that and the fact that they as a team had fun last year, and defending a nation championship is never easy or fun. But they have the skill and talent to do it, that is for sure." Michigan State, however, is poised to take the mantel PREVIEW 2015 Will Anyone Challenge Buckeyes, Spartans? New coaching staffs add intrigue to 2015 race You Read It Here First: Here's our list of the three biggest upsets you might see in 2015 Aug. 31: Illinois State over Iowa Oct. 10: Purdue over Minnesota Nov. 28: Michigan over Ohio State Michigan State Despite all three-headed monster at quarterback at Ohio State, Michigan State's Connor Cook just might be the best signal caller in the league.

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