Ohio State picked as runaway 2024 Big Ten favorite in 14th annual cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Football Poll
Ohio State reclaimed its spot as the preseason Big Ten favorite, with a newcomer expected to challenge it.
Big Ten Preseason Media Poll
1. Ohio State (21) - 480 pts
2. Oregon (6) - 448
3. Penn State - 418
4. Michigan - 411
5. Iowa - 363
6. USC - 346
7. Wisconsin - 313
8. Nebraska - 293
9. Rutgers - 249
10. Washington - 236
11. Maryland - 185
12. Minnesota - 183
13. Illinois - 145
14. Northwestern - 138
15. UCLA - 124
16. Michigan State - 119
17. Indiana - 76
18. Purdue - 65
The media also made predictions on how many Big Ten teams make the College Football Playoff this year:
Big Ten Teams in CFB Playoff
4 teams - 9
3 teams - 16
2 teams - 1
1 team - 1
Predicted Big ten Champion
Ohio State - 27
Oregon - 6
Predicted Big Ten Title Game
Ohio State over Oregon - 24
Oregon over Ohio State - 6
Ohio State over Penn State - 2
Ohio State over Michigan - 1
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
1. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (QB) - 83 pts (24)
2. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (RB) - 39 (4)
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State (WR) - 16
4. Will Howard, Ohio State (QB) - 10 (2)
4. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers (RB) - 10 (1)
4. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (RB) - 10 (1)
Others
Zachariah Branch, USC (WR)
Miller Moss, USC (QB)
Tez Johnson, Oregon (WR)
Darius Taylor, Minnesota (RB)
Nick Singleton, Penn State (RB)
Drew Allar, Penn State (QB)
Kaytron Allen, Penn State (RB)
Dylan Raiola, Nebraska (QB)
Colston Loveland, Michigan (TE)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
1. Will Johnson, Michigan (CB) - 47 pts (9)
2. Caleb Downs, Ohio State (S) - 30 (4)
3. Mason Graham, Michigan (DT) - 25 (7)
3. J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State (DE) - 25 (5)
3. Jay Higgins, Iowa (LB) - 25 (3)
6. Abdul Carter, Penn State (DE) - 17 (2)
Others
Jack Sawyer, Ohio State (DE)
Sebastian Castro, Iowa (CB)
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin (S)
Denzel Burke, Ohio State (CB)
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon (LB)
Bear Alexander, USC (DT)
Dillon Thieneman, Purdue (S)
Preseason Big Ten Coach of the Year
Dan Lanning, Oregon - 12
Ryan Day, Ohio State - 10
Notes
- This is the eighth time Ohio State has been named the preseason favorite since the inception of this poll 14 years ago. It's been so all but once since Ryan Day became head coach in 2019, placing second in last season's preseason poll.
- Ohio State also only received only first and second place votes
- Michigan's lone second-place vote came at the expense of Oregon
- Washington received votes ranging from 4th to 16th and came in at No. 10. Fellow newcomers from the West Coast USC and UCLA finished 6th and 15th, respectively.
- Purdue was the only team not to receive a single vote higher than 13th. However, Indiana -- who finished 17th -- received 44.4% of the last-place votes
- While only two teams received first-place votes, five different teams received a last place vote
Past Preseason Media Picks (Actual Champion)
2023 - Michigan (Michigan)
2022 - Ohio State (Michigan)
2021 - Ohio State (Michigan)
2020 - Ohio State (Ohio State)
2019 - Michigan (Ohio State)
2018 - Ohio State (Ohio State)
2017 - Ohio State (Ohio State
2016 - Ohio State (Penn State)
2015 - Ohio State (Michigan State)
2014 - Michigan State (Ohio State)
2013 - Ohio State (Michigan State)
2012 - Michigan (Wisconsin)
2011 - Nebraska (Wisconsin)
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