Hopefully Kevin Warren doesnt cancel the Big 10 football season at his press conference tomorrow due to monkeypox. I put nothing past that man. Nothing.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the first time in five years, Ohio State football does not enter the season as the defending Big Ten champion.
Another streak continues, though, as the Buckeyes remain the favorite to reclaim their crown. Per 36 voters in the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football poll, OSU was the unanimous choice to win both the East Division and the conference championship game in Indianapolis.
Ohio State is the first unanimous preseason favorite since 2015, when it was also picked to win the league as the defending national champion.
This is the third straight season Ohio State was picked to win the league. It followed through in 2020, but a loss to Michigan in the 2021 regular-season finale ended a four-year run as champion. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was the clear pick for preseason offensive player of the year, and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished second. Four Buckeyes received preseason defensive player of the year votes.
Wisconsin is the overwhelming favorite to win the West, taking 31 first-place votes. Iowa was the consensus second-place pick with three first-place votes. Minnesota, picked to finish third, received the other first-place votes.
• Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell
• Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud
Divisional favorites Ohio State and Wisconsin will play Sept. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Iowa also visits, on Oct. 22.
Michigan received 25 second-place votes as the favorite to finish runner-up to the Buckeyes, followed by Penn State.
Cleveland.com picked up the responsibility for organizing the poll when the Big Ten dropped it 12 years ago. The panel included beat writers from 13 of 14 Big Ten teams and some who cover the entire league or have a national perspective.
The SEC released a full preseason poll last week with 181 voters. The Big 12 also released a full poll at its media days event. The ACC historically also releases a full preseason poll. For some reason, the Big Ten passes on posterity.
Each writer was asked to vote 1-7 in both divisions, with first-place votes worth seven points, second-place votes worth six and so on.
WEST DIVISION
1. Wisconsin (31 first-place votes) 246 points
2. Iowa (3) 198
3. Minnesota (2) 162
4. Purdue 153
5. Nebraska 123
6. Illinois 65
7. Northwestern 61
EAST DIVISION
1. Ohio State (36) 252
2. Michigan 203
3. Penn State 169
4. Michigan State 162
5. Maryland 104
6. Rutgers 60
7. Indiana 58
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Ohio State over Wisconsin (31)
Ohio State over Iowa (3)
Ohio State over Minnesota (2)
OTHER POLL NOTES
• There is little consensus behind Wisconsin in the West, as every team received a vote to finish as high as third.
Iowa received first-place votes and a seventh-place vote. Minnesota was picked to finish anywhere from second through fifth. Purdue, Nebraska and Illinois were all picked as high as second and as low as seventh. Last-place pick Northwestern received a third-place vote.
• Michigan State, picked to finish last in the East last season, instead rose into the national top 10 and finished third in the division. The Spartans received votes to finish second through sixth in this poll.
• Rutgers was the only East team not to receive at least one vote as high as fourth place.
• Indiana was picked third in the East last season after receiving 11 second-place votes. Now it is picked to repeat its last-place finish.
2021: Pick: Ohio State: Actual: Michigan
2020: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State
2019: Pick: Michigan. Actual: Ohio State
2018: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State.
2017: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State.
2016: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Penn State.
2015: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Michigan State.
2014: Pick: Michigan State. Actual: Ohio State.
2013: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Michigan State.
2012: Pick: Michigan. Actual: Wisconsin.
2011: Pick: Nebraska. Actual: Wisconsin.
Ohio State football unanimously picked as Big Ten champion in 12th annual cleveland.com preseason poll
Ohio State is the unanimous pick as champion in the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football poll.
www.cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the first time in five years, Ohio State football does not enter the season as the defending Big Ten champion.
Another streak continues, though, as the Buckeyes remain the favorite to reclaim their crown. Per 36 voters in the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football poll, OSU was the unanimous choice to win both the East Division and the conference championship game in Indianapolis.
Ohio State is the first unanimous preseason favorite since 2015, when it was also picked to win the league as the defending national champion.
This is the third straight season Ohio State was picked to win the league. It followed through in 2020, but a loss to Michigan in the 2021 regular-season finale ended a four-year run as champion. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was the clear pick for preseason offensive player of the year, and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished second. Four Buckeyes received preseason defensive player of the year votes.
Wisconsin is the overwhelming favorite to win the West, taking 31 first-place votes. Iowa was the consensus second-place pick with three first-place votes. Minnesota, picked to finish third, received the other first-place votes.
• Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell
• Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud
Divisional favorites Ohio State and Wisconsin will play Sept. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Iowa also visits, on Oct. 22.
Michigan received 25 second-place votes as the favorite to finish runner-up to the Buckeyes, followed by Penn State.
Cleveland.com picked up the responsibility for organizing the poll when the Big Ten dropped it 12 years ago. The panel included beat writers from 13 of 14 Big Ten teams and some who cover the entire league or have a national perspective.
The SEC released a full preseason poll last week with 181 voters. The Big 12 also released a full poll at its media days event. The ACC historically also releases a full preseason poll. For some reason, the Big Ten passes on posterity.
Each writer was asked to vote 1-7 in both divisions, with first-place votes worth seven points, second-place votes worth six and so on.
WEST DIVISION
1. Wisconsin (31 first-place votes) 246 points
2. Iowa (3) 198
3. Minnesota (2) 162
4. Purdue 153
5. Nebraska 123
6. Illinois 65
7. Northwestern 61
EAST DIVISION
1. Ohio State (36) 252
2. Michigan 203
3. Penn State 169
4. Michigan State 162
5. Maryland 104
6. Rutgers 60
7. Indiana 58
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Ohio State over Wisconsin (31)
Ohio State over Iowa (3)
Ohio State over Minnesota (2)
OTHER POLL NOTES
• There is little consensus behind Wisconsin in the West, as every team received a vote to finish as high as third.
Iowa received first-place votes and a seventh-place vote. Minnesota was picked to finish anywhere from second through fifth. Purdue, Nebraska and Illinois were all picked as high as second and as low as seventh. Last-place pick Northwestern received a third-place vote.
• Michigan State, picked to finish last in the East last season, instead rose into the national top 10 and finished third in the division. The Spartans received votes to finish second through sixth in this poll.
• Rutgers was the only East team not to receive at least one vote as high as fourth place.
• Indiana was picked third in the East last season after receiving 11 second-place votes. Now it is picked to repeat its last-place finish.
2021: Pick: Ohio State: Actual: Michigan
2020: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State
2019: Pick: Michigan. Actual: Ohio State
2018: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State.
2017: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State.
2016: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Penn State.
2015: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Michigan State.
2014: Pick: Michigan State. Actual: Ohio State.
2013: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Michigan State.
2012: Pick: Michigan. Actual: Wisconsin.
2011: Pick: Nebraska. Actual: Wisconsin.