▁The ▁conference ▁began ▁its ▁season ▁on ▁Th urs day , ▁September ▁ 3 , ▁with ▁Michigan ▁and ▁Minnesota ▁opening ▁their ▁seasons . ▁The ▁remainder ▁of ▁the ▁teams ▁in ▁the ▁conference ▁began ▁their ▁seasons ▁on ▁September ▁ 4 ▁and ▁ 5 . ▁ ▁This ▁was ▁the ▁Big ▁Ten ' s ▁second ▁season ▁with ▁ 1 4 ▁teams . ▁The ▁league ▁was ▁home ▁to ▁the ▁def ending ▁national ▁champion ▁and ▁inaug ural ▁winner ▁of ▁the ▁College ▁Football ▁Play off ▁in ▁Ohio ▁State . ▁ ▁The ▁Big ▁Ten ▁also ▁wel com ed ▁four ▁new ▁head ▁coach es ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁season . ▁ ▁Jim ▁Har b augh ▁replaced ▁Br ady ▁H oke ▁as ▁head ▁coach ▁at ▁Michigan , ▁Mike ▁R iley ▁took ▁over ▁for ▁Bo ▁Pel ini ▁at ▁Neb r aska , ▁Paul ▁Ch ry st ▁came ▁in ▁as ▁the ▁head ▁man ▁at ▁Wisconsin , ▁replacing ▁Gary ▁Anders en , ▁and ▁Bill ▁Cub it ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁inter im ▁head ▁coach ▁at ▁Illinois ▁after ▁Tim ▁Beck man ▁was ▁fired ▁just ▁one ▁week ▁before ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁There ▁were ▁also ▁two ▁co aching ▁changes ▁made ▁during ▁the ▁middle ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁season . ▁ ▁On ▁October ▁ 1 3 , ▁Maryland ▁dismiss ed ▁coach ▁R andy ▁Ed s all ▁and ▁named ▁his ▁off ensive ▁coordin ator ▁Mike ▁Lock s ley ▁as ▁inter im ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁On ▁October ▁ 2 8 , ▁Jerry ▁Kill ▁retired ▁as ▁Minnesota ' s