Seven burning questions for the Big Ten East entering fall practice

Providing the obvious answers to the biggest questions facing the Big Ten East this season

When it comes to the Big Ten's East Division, we know -- or at least we think we do -- that it's the best in the league -- and possibly the country. It's home to Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State, three schools that would surprise no one by finishing the 2016 season as the three best in the conference -- in any order.

Outside of that, however, there are a lot of questions surrounding the Big Ten's better half. With only a few weeks remaining until the season actually -- mercifully -- starts, what better time than trying to answer the biggest questions that will face the division this season?

1. Can Ohio State replace all of that talent? College football teams have to replace key players every season. It's just part of the game, and it's something that the power programs have to deal with, especially as more of their players leave early for the NFL. This situation at Ohio State, however, just seems unprecedented.

It's not just the number of starters that left -- the Buckeyes have just six returning starters, three on each side of the ball -- but the astounding amount of talent that walked out the door. All of which results in an Ohio State team that could be fascinating to watch this season and may also struggle early before finding itself later in the campaign.

Overall, though, I'm optimistic about the Buckeyes in 2016. Yes, they have to replace a lot of key players, but since Urban Meyer came to Columbus, the Buckeyes have been atop the recruiting rankings not just in the Big Ten but nationally. There's a lot more talent behind the talent that left, and now it'll get its time to shine.

Plus, for all the losses, Ohio State does have J.T. Barrett returning at quarterback. So when I look at teams and try to figure out how they're going to do in a season, there are three factors I like to look at: quarterback, talent and coaching. Ohio State has all three of those covered.

2. Will Michigan be able to run the ball effectively? We don't know who Michigan's quarterback will be yet, but frankly, I'm not all that concerned about it. If Jim Harbaugh could get over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns from Jake Rudock last year, I'm sure Michigan's starting quarterback in 2016 will be just fine as well. What I need to know is whether or not Michigan can find a real run game.

The Wolverines rushed for only 4.19 yards per carry last season, which was only good enough to rank in the middle of the Big Ten and 79th nationally. In conference play, that yards-per-carry number dipped to 3.68. The only teams to average less in Big Ten games were Rutgers, Purdue and Illinois. That's not exactly the kind of company Michigan wants to be keeping if it's going to live up to the endless amount of hype surrounding the program this offseason.

I don't think it's any coincidence that Michigan's two worst rushing games of the 2015 season were in losses to Michigan State and Ohio State. In those two games, the Wolverines rushed for a total of 119 yards on 58 carries. That's 2.05 yards per carry. There's just no way Michigan wins the division if its run game doesn't improve in 2016.

3. Where does Michigan State go without Connor Cook? Michigan State is in a similar position to Ohio State in that it has to replace a lot of starters from last year's team. The major differences are that Michigan State doesn't recruit on the same level as Ohio State -- instead relying on the development of its players -- and the Spartans have to replace their quarterback.

In Cook's three years as Michigan State's starting quarterback, the Spartans went 35-5 (21-2 Big Ten) with two Big Ten titles, a Rose Bowl and a spot in the second College Football Playoff. Now, that clearly wasn't all on Cook, but I think he does not receive proper credit for his significant impact on the team.

When we think of Michigan State and the success its had under Mark Dantonio, we tend to focus on the defense. And for good reason as it's typically one of the best units in the country. But we shouldn't overlook the impact of a strong quarterback. We just need to go back a few years.

Michigan State's last three-year starter was Kirk Cousins, and in his final two seasons in East Lansing, Michigan, the Spartans went 22-, and won a conference title. Then he left, and Andrew Maxwell took over as the starter in 2012. Maxwell did not have a strong season, and Michigan State went 7-6. Can they avoid that same situation in 2016?

We don't know whether or not Damion Terry or Tyler O'Conner will win the starting job this season, but whoever Dantonio chooses will have some rather large shoes to fill. How well that player goes about filling them will have a major impact in how Michigan State defends its Big Ten title.

4. Can James Franklin turn those recruiting wins into on-field victories? When Franklin came to Penn State in 2014, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the hire -- and deservedly so. Franklin had taken over a moribund Vanderbilt program coming off consecutive 2-10 seasons in 2011 and immediately brought the Commodores to a bowl game in his first season. He then won 18 games over the next two years before Penn State came calling. Franklin was clearly the coach that was going to lead Penn State out of the haze still hovering over the program following the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Two years later, though, Penn State is 14-12 under Franklin. He's put together some excellent recruiting classes since taking over in State College but that talent hasn't turned into wins on the field just yet. Now, Franklin's had some valid excuses -- of which he sometimes seems too eager to remind everyone -- with Penn State still suffering the effects of NCAA penalties.

But those excuses are gone now. It's time to start winning.

Franklin is hoping a revamped offense can help accomplish this goal. He's hired Joe Moorhead from Fordham to take over the offense. Moorhead will bring more of an up-tempo, no-huddle approach to the Penn State offense. While it will no doubt take some time to adjust to the approach -- for the team and for fans watching -- it will be interesting to see if the change in philosophy changes the results on the field.

5. Who is the division's sleeper? I believe we're all overlooking Maryland a little bit. This isn't to say that the Terps are going to compete for a division title, but I expect a bounce back following a 3-9 season. The hire of DJ Durkin away from Michigan will have an immediate impact on the Maryland defense and special teams, and its turnover luck (Maryland finished 126th in the nation last season with a turnover margin of -18) is bound to regress to the mean a bit. If those things happen, Maryland is a team that could pull off an upset or two on its way to a bowl game.

6. Which coach is on the hottest seat? I don't know that any coach in the division is truly on the hot seat. Yes, there's pressure on Franklin to start winning more games at Penn State, but I believe that's more the national perspective than local. Penn State realizes the conditions he's had to deal with since taking over the program, and I'm sure the leash is a bit longer than it might be elsewhere.

7. Which team is the most likely to earn a College Football Playoff spot? There are three solid candidates in this division between Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State, but if I'm playing the odds, I'll say the Buckeyes have has the best chance to get that playoff spot this season.