Ohio State the Consensus Choice to Win Conference Championship in Big Ten Media Poll

In a preseason poll of media members (including me) who cover the Big Ten conducted by Kings of the North’s Doug Lesmerises, Ohio State received 27 of 33 votes to win this year’s Big Ten Championship Game. Each of the other six voters picked Oregon to win the conference title.

All 33 voters picked Ohio State to at least make the Big Ten Championship Game. 30 of the 33 picked Oregon to make the Big Ten title game as well, though two have Ohio State beating Penn State in Indianapolis while one has the Buckeyes defeating Michigan in an instant rematch of The Game.

The entire group of voters agreed Ohio State and Oregon will both make the first 12-team College Football Playoff. All but two voters expect the Big Ten to have at least three teams in the CFP, with 10 of the 33 voters projecting that the conference will send four teams to the playoff. 21 of 33 voters have Penn State joining OSU and Oregon in the playoff, while just over half (17) have Michigan making the CFP. Three voters picked Iowa to make the playoff.

Voters were also asked to rank their top three choices for Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Four Ohio State players on each side of the ball received votes, though a Buckeye isn’t projected to win either award.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel is the consensus choice for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, receiving 24 of 32 first-place votes. Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins finished second in the voting, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka finished third and quarterback Will Howard and running back TreVeyon Henderson tied with Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai for fourth, with all of them except Egbuka receiving at least one first-place vote.

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson earned preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year recognition in a closer vote, receiving nine of 30 first-place votes cast. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs finished second in the defensive balloting while OSU defensive end JT Tuimoloau tied for third with Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins. Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke and defensive end Jack Sawyer also received votes.

RELATED My Preseason All-Big Ten Team Predictions

The full results of the unofficial preseason Big Ten media poll can be found below.

Predicted Order of Standings
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. USC
7. Wisconsin
8. Nebraska
9. Rutgers
10. Washington
11. Maryland
12. Minnesota
13. UCLA
14. Illinois
15. Michigan State
16. Northwestern
17. Indiana
18. Purdue

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
(Vote for 3 players, 3-2-1 point scoring. 1 team voter did not vote, so only 32 first-place votes)

1. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon QB: 83 points (24 first-place votes)
2. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State RB: 39 points (4)
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State WR: 16 points
4. Will Howard, Ohio State QB: 10 points (2)
4. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers RB: 10 points (1)
4. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State RB: 10 points (1)

Other players appearing on one or two ballots:
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
Donovan Edwards, Michigan RB
Colston Loveland, Michigan TE

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
(Vote for 3 players, 3-2-1 point scoring. 3 team voters did not vote, so only 30 first-place votes)

1. Will Johnson, Michigan CB: 47 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Caleb Downs, Ohio State S: 30 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Mason Graham, Michigan DT: 25 points (7 first-place votes)
3. J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State DE: 25 points (5 first-place votes)
3. Jay Higgins, Iowa LB: 25 points (3 first-place votes)
6. Abdul Carter, Penn State DE: 17 points (2 first-place votes)

Other players appearing on one or two ballots:
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

How Many Big Ten Teams Will Make the Playoff?
3 – 21 votes
4 – 10 votes
2 – 2 votes

Will Ohio State make it?
100% Yes

Will Oregon make it?
100% Yes

Will Penn State make it?
64% Yes
36% No

Will Michigan make it?
52% Yes
48% No

Will Iowa make it?
91% No
9% Yes

Will USC make it?
100% No

Cleveland.com and USA TODAY Sports also released preseason Big Ten media polls on Monday. Ohio State received 21 of 27 votes to win the Big Ten in Cleveland.com’s poll, while eight of 13 voters picked OSU in USA TODAY’s poll.

USA TODAY’s voters also put together a preseason All-Big Ten team, which includes seven Buckeyes: running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, guard Donovan Jackson, defensive end JT Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, cornerback Denzel Burke and safety Caleb Downs. Ryan Day is projected to win Big Ten Coach of the Year honors while Downs was selected as one of two Big Ten Newcomers of the Year alongside Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, USA TODAY’s pick for Big Ten Player of the Year.