Ohio State voted 2020 Big Ten favorite in cleveland.com Preseason Poll

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football rolled to an undefeated regular season in 2019 and won its third consecutive Big Ten championship game.

An overwhelming consensus of Big Ten reporters polled by cleveland.com expects the Buckeyes to repeat — assuming they have the chance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ohio State received 33 of 34 first-place votes in cleveland.com’s 2020 Preseason Big Ten Football Poll. The same margin picked the Buckeyes to win the East Division. Penn State received the other vote to win the East and the league championship.

The vote was tighter in the West. Defending champion Wisconsin totaled 19 first-place votes and 221 points. Minnesota received 14 first-place votes and 209.5 points. Northwestern received the other first-place vote.

Five of the seven teams in the West received either a first or second-place vote.

Cleveland.com conducted the preseason poll for a 10th consecutive season. The panel included at least one beat writer from all 14 Big Ten teams and a few who cover the entire league or have a national perspective.

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Penn State’s Micah Parsons is unanimous favorite for Defensive Player of the Year in cleveland.com’s 2020 Big Ten Preseason Poll

None of the previous polls were tabulated under such uncertainty. As media members submitted their votes this week they were unaware of the full conference schedule, which is being reworked under the shadow of COVID-19 concerns.

The poll is typically revealed at the start of the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. That event was canceled due to the coronavirus, as were the Big Ten’s non-conference games this fall. It remains to be seen if games will be played in 2020.

Yet the poll was held for posterity and to establish expectations for whatever season eventually unfolds.

Ohio State was voted the preseason favorite for the sixth time in the past eight years. Each writer was asked for vote 1-7 in both divisions, with first-place votes worth seven points, second-place votes worth six and so on.

Here are the full results:

BIG TEN EAST

1. Ohio State 237 points (33 first-place votes)

2. Penn State 204 points (1)

3. Michigan 169 points

4. Indiana 134 points

5. Michigan State 94 points

6. Maryland 76 points

7. Rutgers 38 points

BIG TEN WEST

1. Wisconsin 221 points (19)

2. Minnesota 209.5 (14)

3. Iowa 157 points

4. Nebraska 117 points

5. Purdue 105 points

6. Northwestern 87.5 points (1)

7. Illinois 55 points

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTIONS

Ohio State over Wisconsin (19)

Ohio State over Minnesota (13)

Ohio State over Northwestern (1)

Penn State over Minnesota (1)

Other poll notes:

• The voting panel had the toughest time coming to a consensus on Northwestern. The Wildcats received one first-place vote, two third-place votes and eight last-place votes in the West. Northwestern, which won the West in 2018, added former Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey as a grad transfer in the offseason.

• Penn State was the near-unanimous runner-up pick in the East, receiving the one first-place vote and one third-place vote. Michigan received the other second-place vote.

• Illinois, a bowl team last season, was the only team in the West not to receive higher than a fourth-place vote. However, that was a step up after receiving every last place vote in each of the last two preseason polls.

• Wisconsin was either first or second in the West on every ballot but two.

A year ago, Michigan edged Ohio State for preseason favorite status. Nebraska and Iowa received 14 first-place votes apiece in the West, followed by Wisconsin (4) and Northwestern (1).

Instead, Ohio State won the league in fairly dominant fashion. Wisconsin won its second West Division title in three years. Nebraska finished fifth and Northwestern won one Big Ten game and finished last.

Looking back at the poll’s history, here are the favorites and the eventual league champions since the divisional split, the introduction of the title game and the Big Ten shirking a full preseason ranking.

2019: Pick: Michigan. Actual: Ohio State

2018: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State.

2017: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Ohio State.

2016: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Penn State.

2015: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Michigan State.

2014: Pick: Michigan State. Actual: Ohio State.

2013: Pick: Ohio State. Actual: Michigan State.

2012: Pick: Michigan. Actual: Wisconsin.

2011: Pick: Nebraska. Actual: Wisconsin.

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