The unanimous pick to win the Big Ten this season? It's the Ohio State Buckeyes. And what would be more surprising is if someone didn't vote for the defending national champs.
One hundred percent of the 40 writers polled by Cleveland.com's Doug Lesmerises in his annual media poll picked Ohio State to win a second straight Big Ten Championship Game.
There isn't too much data to pore over, as no one picked another Big Ten East team to represent the division in the league's title game, not even Michigan State, which in the opinion of many will be one of college football's top teams this season. That should indicate just how loaded the Buckeyes are.
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These writers also predict a rematch in the Big Ten title game, selecting Wisconsin as the Big Ten West champ. That pick wasn't unanimous, though, as five first-place votes went to Nebraska and three went to Minnesota.
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Here's how the writers projected the final conference standings:
East Division
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1. Ohio State
2. Michigan State
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Maryland
6. Rutgers
7. Indiana
West Division
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Iowa
5. Northwestern
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
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In addition to picking the final standings and conference champ, the writers voted for Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. More Buckeye dominance, as Ezekiel Elliott was tabbed on offense and Joey Bosa on defense. Here's that voting breakdown:
1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
2. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
3. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State
4. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
5. Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin
6. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
7. Ohio State quarterbacks
8. Braxton Miller, QB/WR/H-back, Ohio State
9. Wes Lunt, QB, Illinois
1. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
2. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
3. Anthony Zettel, DT, Penn State
4. Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
5. Will Likely, CB, Maryland
6. Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska
T-7. Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin
T-7. Ed Davis, LB, Michigan State
T-7. Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
T-10. Joe Bolden, LB, Michigan
T-10. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
T-10. Darius Hamilton, DT, Rutgers
T-10. Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota
T-10. Michael Caputo, S, Wisconsin