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On the Eve of Big Ten Media Days Cleveland.com Releases Its Annual Poll

Featured Replies

  • Moderator
No.

The Big Ten does not conduct its own media poll. For years, and just before Media Days begin, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, now Cleveland.com, has released the go-to conference preseason football poll.

O and O - Ohio State and Oregon are ranked 1st and 2nd but it is close to neck-and-neck.

On3
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Preseason Big Ten Football Poll released by Cleveland.com

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  • Author
  • Moderator
No.

A few thoughts on these rankings.

USC 4, Michigan 5, Penn State 6 - Penn State has the easiest schedule in the Big Ten in 2026. USC and Michigan have two of the most difficult schedules in the country.

Penn State plays USC at home and is on the road at Michigan.

If the players Matt Campbell brought with him from Iowa State, including QB Rocco Becht, who has started 39 games, can step up against B1G competition, the Nittany Lions could go 10-2 or better and be in the playoff discussion.

Minnesota's P.J. Fleck is undefeated in bowl games with a 7-0 record.

Week 2 headline B1G vs. SEC games are Ohio State at Texas and Oklahoma at Michigan. Mississippi State's Week 2 visit to Minneapolis will influence the debate over the two conferences' depth.

These are the three regular-season matchups between Power 2 teams.

Wisconsin has a tough opener against Notre Dame in Green Bay, but has the second-easiest conference schedule. UCLA has a tough opener at Cal, but also has a relatively easy conference schedule. I think both teams will do better than the predicted 12 and 13.

Washington's two trips to the Eastern Time Zone this season are visits to Purdue and Michigan State. Iowa, Penn State, and Indiana all visit Seattle.

UW also will likely benefit from playing at USC the week after Oregon plays at USC. UW has a decent chance of finishing better than 7th in the conference and is a playoff dark horse (dog?).

Let's play ball!

Beat Boise!

  • Administrator
No.
3 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Washington's two trips to the Eastern Time Zone this season are visits to Purdue and Michigan State. Iowa, Penn State, and Indiana all visit Seattle.

UW also will likely benefit from playing at USC the week after Oregon plays at USC. UW has a decent chance of finishing better than 7th in the conference and is a playoff dark horse (dog?).

Jon...you ARE the "Schedule Maven" of this site! It adds so much....

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Mr. OBD

  • Author
  • Moderator
No.

SI 'immediately' weighs in. 😁

Oregon Ducks On SI
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3 Immediate Reactions to Oregon Ducks’ Big Ten Preseason...

The college football season feels around the corner with Big Ten Media Days beginning on July 28 and fall camp following shortly thereafter for teams around the

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