Ohio State remains a popular pick to finish atop the Big Ten this year.
In a survey of 13 beat writers covering the league for the USA TODAY Sports Network, the Buckeyes edged out Oregon as the favorite.
Eight of the first-place votes went to the Buckeyes, while five ended up with the Ducks, who are among the four former Pac-12 schools set to join the conference when it expands to 18 members next month.
Michigan, the defending national champion that has also won three straight Big Ten titles, is in a tie with Penn State at No. 3 in the preseason poll.
The Big Ten, which is holdings its annual media days in Indianapolis this week, does not conduct an official preseason media poll.
While Ohio State ended last season on a two-game losing streak and has not won the conference since 2020, it has had a splashy offseason that raised expectations for this fall. Â
Ryan Day’s program added several high-profile players out of the transfer portal, a group that included quarterback Will Howard from Kansas State, running back Quinshon Judkins from Mississippi and safety Caleb Downs from Alabama. It also hired UCLA coach Chip Kelly as its offensive coordinator.
Prior to the ascendance of their archrivals, the Buckeyes had won four consecutive conference championships over a stretch from 2017-20.
The USA TODAY Sports Network also released a preseason All-Big Ten on Tuesday that included seven Buckeyes among running back: TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver: Emeka Egbuka, left guard Donovan Jackson, defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, cornerback Denzel Burke and safety Caleb Downs. Day was voted as the league’s coach of the year over Dan Lanning as well.
Below is the full breakdown of the poll and all-conference team.
All-Big Ten media poll
1. Ohio State (8 first place votes)
2. Oregon (5 first place votes)
3. (tie) Michigan
3. (tie) Penn State
5. USC
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Nebraska
9. Washington
10. Rutgers
11. Maryland
12. Michigan State
13. Minnesota
14. UCLA
15. Illinois
16. Indiana
17. Northwestern
18. Purdue
All-Big Ten preseason team
OFFENSE
- Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon*
- Running back: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
- Running back: Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
- Wide receiver: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State*
- Wide receiver: Tez Johnson, Oregon
- Tight end: Colston Loveland, Michigan
- Offensive line: Logan Jones, Iowa
- Offensive line: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
- Offensive line: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
- Offensive line: Josh Priebe, Michigan
- Offensive line: Sal Wormley, Penn State
DEFENSE
- Defensive line: Mason Graham, Michigan
- Defensive line: J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- Defensive line: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
- Defensive line: Abdul Carter, Penn State
- Linebacker: Jay Higgins, Iowa
- Linebacker: Nick Jackson, Iowa
- Linebacker: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
- Defensive back: Will Johnson, Michigan
- Defensive back: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
- Defensive back: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Defensive back: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Kicker: Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
- Punter: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
- All-purpose: Zachariah Branch, USC
AWARDS
- Coach of the Year: Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Player of the Year: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
- Newcomer of the Year: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
- Newcomer of the Year (non-Dillon Gabriel category): Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.