Ohio State is the B1G’s 800-pound gorilla

The Ohio State Buckeyes were the unanimous selection to repeat as Big Ten champions in a poll released Monday by Cleveland.com.

The fifth annual Big Ten preseason football poll was all Buckeyes. The 40 voters picked Ohio State to win the Big Ten East Divison and title game. Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott and Buckeyes defensive end Joey Bosa were voted the preseason offensive and defensive MVPs.

Bosa received 37 of 38 first-place votes, with Maryland defensive back William Likely picking up the only other top vote. Elliott received 31 of 39.

Michigan State was the unanimous No. 2 in the East Division. Penn State was a solid third with Michigan fourth.

The Big Ten also has a West Division, you might remember. Wisconsin is the runaway pick in the West, picking up 32 first-place votes with five for Nebraska and three for Minnesota.

In what serves as the most official prediction of the Big Ten season, since the conference itself stopped gathering votes and producing a preseason poll in 2011, all 40 voters in our cleveland.com poll picked the Buckeyes as conference champs. When Big Ten Media Days begin on Thursday, the league will release only a watch list of 10 players, five from each division.

More than 60 voters from around the league, a cross-section of writers covering each team as well as several who cover the overall conference, were invited to vote this season. That was a step up from the two writers from each team asked to vote in the past. But the bigger number didn't create any confusion at the top, at least in the East.

In four years, this poll hasn't correctly picked the Big Ten champion yet. So, print the championship T-shirts, Michigan State.

The Gazette's Scott Dochterman and I voted in the poll. Here's what we think happens:

Scott's votes

EAST:

1. Ohio State; 2. Michigan State; 3. Penn State; 4. Michigan; 5. Indiana; 6. Maryland; 7. Rutgers

WEST:

1. Nebraska; 2. Wisconsin; 3. Northwestern; 4. Iowa; 5. Minnesota; 6. Illinois; 7. Purdue

Big Ten title game contestants

: Ohio State vs. Nebraska

Big Ten champion

: Ohio State

Big Ten offensive players of the year:

1. OSU quarterback (on a limb, Cardale Jones); 2. Connor Cook, Michigan State; 3. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Big Ten defensive players of the year:

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State; 2. Maliek Collins, Nebraska; 3. William Likely, Maryland

Big Ten team in the College Football Playoff?:

Ohio State

Will Ohio State repeat as national champion?:

Yes

How many games in the 12-game regular season will Michigan win in Jim Harbaugh's first year?:

7-5 (4-4 Big Ten)

Which first-year coach will win more games? Mike Riley at Nebraska, Paul Chryst at Wisconsin or Jim Harbaugh at Michigan?

: Mike Riley at Nebraska

Marc's votes

EAST:

1. Ohio State, 2. Michigan State, 3. Penn State, 4. Michigan, 5. Indiana, 6. Maryland, 7. Rutgers

WEST:

1. Nebraska, 2. Wisconsin, 3. Minnesota, 4. Iowa, 5. Northwestern, 6. Illinois, 7. Purdue

Big Ten title game contestants

: Ohio State vs. Nebraska

Big Ten champion

: Ohio State

Big Ten offensive players of the year:

1. Ezekiel Elliott, OSU, 2. Cardale Jones, OSU, 3. Connor Cook, MSU

Big Ten defensive players of the year:

1. Joey Bosa, OSU, 2. Shilique Calhoun, MSU, 3. Darron Lee, OSU

Big Ten team in the College Football Playoff?:

Ohio State

Will Ohio State repeat as national champion?:

Yes

How many games in the 12-game regular season will Michigan win in Jim Harbaugh's first year?:

6-6 for Harbichigan

Which first-year coach will win more games? Mike Riley at Nebraska, Paul Chryst at Wisconsin or Jim Harbaugh at Michigan?

: Mike Riley at Nebraska (Stealthy good hire, most to work with)

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com