Where did Ohio State land in the Cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football media poll?
The results were as close as any I can remember in recent years, but after 25 media members were polled from around the conference, Penn State was picked to win the Big Ten championship with 11 first-place votes. As we mentioned, it was close, though, with Ohio State finishing second, just one first-place vote behind the Nittany Lions and with total poll points totaling 435 to 431.
Penn State has gotten a lot of preseason buzz this season, mainly because it returns a lot of veteran players at key positions, including Drew Allar at quarterback and the tandem of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton at running back, both of whom eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2024. The defense should also be a very good one with key skill returning and now under the guidance of former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
If Penn State can pull it off, it'll be the first time it has taken home the Big Ten title since 2016. Oregon -- last year's conference champion -- was picked to finish third, followed by Illinois (4), and Michigan (5). The Ducks got three first-place votes, and the Wolverines got one (no truth to the rumor that it was Connor Stalions). The Illini didn't receive a first-place vote.
Here's a look at the entire preseason Big Ten order of finish predictions from the Cleveland.com poll:
We'll have coverage of Big Ten media days when things get rolling on Tuesday and through the rest of the week. It's about to get a lot of fun, and there are only a few weeks before we get to buckle up on this ride called college football season again.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
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