Most conferences organize their own official preseason media polls during the various conference media days. The Big Ten is one of the conferences that does not conduct its own preseason media poll, which is why Cleveland.com’s sports staff took up the task of organizing an annual preseason media poll. And as the Big Ten football media day event is about to get underway in Indianapolis this week, this year’s unofficial Big Ten preseason media poll is out. Penn State is expected to be among the top contenders in the conference this season according to those who voted.
Penn State received the third-most points in the media poll organized by Cleveland.com. The Nittany Lions finished with seven more points than defending Big Ten and national champion Michigan, who is fourth in the preseason poll. Ohio State was the runaway favorite among the voters with 21 first-place votes out of a possible 27. Ohio State received a total of 480 points in the voting. New Big Ten member Oregon received the remaining six first-place votes and 448 total points in the voting.
Here is a look at the 2024 Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Media Poll:
- Ohio State (*21 first-place votes) – 480 total points
- Oregon (6) – 448
- Penn State – 418
- Michigan – 411
- Iowa – 363
- USC – 346
- Wisconsin – 313
- Nebraska – 293
- Rutgers – 249
- Washington – 236
- Maryland – 185
- Minnesota – 183
- Illinois – 145
- Northwestern – 138
- UCLA – 124
- Michigan State – 119
- Indiana – 76
- Purdue – 65
So, how accurate has this preseason poll been over the years? Since 2011, this poll has correctly predicted the Big Ten champion just four times. The poll correctly predicted Ohio State to win the Big Ten in 2017, 2018, and 2020, and Michigan in 2023.
Voters were also asked to predict how many Big Ten teams will make the College Football Playoff, which expands to 12 teams this season from the former four-team format. Every ballot predicted Ohio State will reach the playoff, and all but one predicted Oregon will reach the playoff. A total of 18 voters believe Penn State will reach the College Football Playoff, and 15 pick Michigan to make a return to defend its national title. Three voters predicted Iowa will make the playoff.
You can view more information in the Big Ten preseason media poll via Cleveland.com.
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