In the least surprising thing you’ll see this Monday morning, the Big Ten media unanimously picked the defending national champions to win another conference title.
All 40 voters in Cleveland.com’s media poll -- the Big Ten does not conduct its own preseason media poll -- picked Ohio State Buckeyes to repeat as conference champions. With arguably college football’s best coach in Urban Meyer and stars like QBs J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, RB Ezekiel Elliott, QB/WR/TBD Braxton Miller and DE Joey Bosa returning, plus a ton of young talent moving up the ranks, there are plenty of reasons to think the Buckeyes will cruise through the Big Ten and back into the College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin was picked to win the West division, garnering 32 first-place votes and 272 points. Nebraska and Minnesota received five and three first-place votes, respectively.
The full voting breakdown:
EAST
1. Ohio State 280 (40)
2. Michigan State 240
3. Penn State 186.5
4. Michigan 163.5
5. Maryland 95.5
6. Rutgers 78
7. Indiana 76.5
WEST
1. Wisconsin 272 (32)
2. Nebraska 231.5 (5)
3. Minnesota 197 (3)
4. Iowa 158.5
5. Northwestern 125
6. Illinois 77
7. Purdue 59
Big Ten Championship
Ohio State over Wisconsin (32)
Ohio State over Nebraska (5)
Ohio State over Minnesota (3)
Big Ten Champion
Ohio State (40)
