From Penn State to Purdue, the predicted order in Big Ten Preseason Media Poll
Former Boilermaker, West Lafayette standout George Karlaftis signs contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs
With the league’s media days starting Tuesday, here is the unofficial/official Big Ten football preseason poll.
It’s the brainchild of former Cleveland.com writer Doug Lesmerises, who started the project when the conference decided to scrap its preseason poll when the Big Ten was a league of 11. Lesmerises now works at Kings of the North, a YouTube show and podcast that covers Northern college football, focusing on 28 power conference programs.
The panel consisted of 54 voters, with two beat writers from most schools, at least one from every school, and 20 national voters. I was asked to participate in the voting.
Lesmerises’ old employer, Cleveland.com continues to publish a Big Ten preseason poll.
ORDER OF FINISH
Penn State (35 first-place votes)
Ohio State (18)
Oregon (1)
Illinois
Michigan
Indiana
USC
Nebraska
Iowa
Washington
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan State
UCLA
Rutgers
Maryland
Northwestern
Purdue
First-year Purdue coach Barry Odom (Chad Krockover Photography)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WINNER
30: Penn State
23: Ohio State
2: Oregon
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MATCHUPS
23: Penn State over Ohio State
20: Ohio State over Penn State
4: Penn State over Oregon
2: Penn State over Illinois
1: Penn State over Michigan, Ohio State over Oregon, Ohio State over Michigan, Oregon over Penn State, Oregon over Ohio State
HOW MANY BIG TEN TEAMS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?
4: 65%
3: 35%
5 or more: 0%
2 or fewer: 0%
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Top 5 and any player with a first-place vote
Caleb Downs, Ohio State safety (43 first-place votes), 140 points
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State DE (2), 34
Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon DE (2), 31
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon safety, 22
Mikail Kamara, Indiana DL, (1), 20
Koi Perich, Minnesota DB,(1), 16
Xavier Scott, Illinois DB (1), 6
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Top 5 and any player with a first-place vote
Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State WR), 39 first-place votes, 137 points
Drew Allar (Penn State QB), 10, 77
Nick Singleton (Penn State RB), 1, 40
Makhi Hughes (Oregon RB), 14
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB), 7
Note: 50 voters, but four from the team ranking didn't vote: 3 points for first-place vote, 2 points for second, 1 point for third.
Disclosure: I put Ohio State in the top spot, followed by Penn State. The Nittany Lions should be favored, but it’s hard to trust James Franklin until he accomplishes something. … I ranked Purdue No. 16 ahead of Maryland and Northwestern. The addition of Barry Odom and his staff should be worth a win or two after facing Ball State and Southern Illinois. Odom has done this before, and his experience is 10x better than what we witnessed last year. Purdue won’t be at a disadvantage on the sidelines this season. But I have no idea how the 81 newcomers will work out… I had Caleb Downs as the defensive player of the year, but put Drew Allar in the top spot on offense.
PAYDAY FOR KARLIFTIS
As expected, former Purdue and West Lafayette standout defensive end Georga Karliftis hit the jackpot with a four-year contract extension before the start of training camp. The deal is worth $93 million with $62 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
