Ohio State Predicted to Win Big Ten by the Media.

Ohio State is the consensus choice to win the 2024 Big Ten championship. In a preseason poll of media members 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. Thirty 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. Twenty-one 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.

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

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)
  5. Kyle Monangai, Rutgers RB: 10 points (1)
  6. 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)
  4. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State DE: 25 points (5 first-place votes)
  5. 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