Ohio State Picked As Big Ten’s Best Team, Jeremiah Smith Selected As Offensive Player of the Year in Big Ten Preseason Polls

Ohio State enters the 2026 season as the consensus favorite to win the Big Ten. Three separate unofficial preseason polls, compiled by media members from outlets including The Bill and Doug Show, cleveland.com, and USA TODAY, all place the Buckeyes at the top of the conference standings. Oregon maintains a strong presence in the rankings, trailing Ohio State closely and even securing more first-place votes in some ballots.

Jeremiah Smith, the wide receiver for Ohio State, stands out as the clear favorite for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He secured 33 of the 46 first-place votes in the Bill and Doug Show poll, finishing significantly ahead of Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and teammate Julian Sayin. This recognition highlights the expectations placed on the Ohio State passing game for the upcoming year.

The defensive side of the ball presents a different picture with no clear frontrunner across the various polls. A’mauri Washington of Oregon, Anthony Smith of Minnesota, and Rolijah Hardy of Indiana each earned top defensive honors in separate surveys. This lack of consensus suggests a highly competitive season for defensive talent across the expanded Big Ten roster.

Beyond individual awards, the media projections indicate strong representation for the conference in the College Football Playoff. The majority of voters expect either three or four Big Ten teams to qualify for the postseason bracket. These predictions set the stage for a season where multiple teams remain in contention for national honors until the final weeks of the schedule.