Big Ten preseason media poll released ahead of 2024 college football season

The Big Ten media poll has arrived, predicting the order of finish for all 18 teams in the first edition of the new league.

Cleveland.com, which puts out the full media poll every year, published the 2024 edition on Monday morning. There was no surprise at the very top of the rankings. You can view the entire 1-18 just below.

2024 Big Ten preseason media poll

(First place votes)

1. Ohio State (21)
2. Oregon (6)
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. USC
7. Wisconsin
8. Nebraska
9. Rutgers
10. Washington
11. Maryland
12. Minnesota
13. Illinois
14. Northwestern
15. UCLA
16. Michigan State
17. Indiana
18. Purdue

Leading the way, Ohio State takes the top spot with ease to continue a banner offseason in 2024. The Buckeyes have all the hype in the world this season, but also, immense expectations. A win over Michigan is an absolute must for Ryan Day, as is a College Football Playoff appearance and several victories there. As for the Big Ten? Well, Day could certainly help himself by winning it.

Oregon comes in at No. 2 as the swell of support for Dan Lanning only grows as year three looms with the Ducks. They arrive in the Big Ten after narrow losses to Washington kept them out of the playoff a year ago, however, unlike the Huskies down at No. 10, Oregon has a sixth-year quarterback and plenty of returners to make a playoff appearance likely in 2024.

Perhaps controversially, Penn State slides in at third ahead of Michigan, the 2023 national champions who are just fourth in the Big Ten preseason media poll. The Wolverines do lose a head coach, quarterback, much of the offensive line and a slew of draft picks on both sides of the ball, but still, they must be feeling some disrespect. Meanwhile, Penn State faces a year for James Franklin to prove it against an easier schedule than they’ve had.

Elsewhere, the national title participants from January just aren’t receiving much love, as runner-up Washington places one spot below Rutgers in the media poll at 10th. Like Michigan, UW was dealt a new coach and quarterback and had a fantastic weekend at the NFL Draft, leaving the 2024 squad to rebuild quite a bit.

To wrap things up, the media were very unkind to the Hoosier state and ranked both Big Ten teams from Indiana, Purdue and IU, as the bottom two teams in the conference, 17th and 18th. Ryan Walters and Curt Cignetti can begin the year with chips on their shoulders.