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B1G media poll predicts final standings, championship game matchup for 2021 season
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A media poll conducted by Cleveland.com has predicted Ohio State as the league’s champion.
The full results of the annual poll were released on Wednesday morning, one day before the beginning of Big Ten Media Days.
The Buckeyes received all 34 first-place votes atop the Big Ten East. They also received all 34 votes to win the conference championship game.
Wisconsin is the heavy favorite to win the Big Ten West, earning 29 first-place votes. Iowa received the other five votes to win that division.
Here’s how the standings broke down, per Cleveland.com:
BIG TEN WEST
1. Wisconsin (29 first-place votes) 233 points
2. Iowa (5) 202
3. Northwestern 160
4. Minnesota 146
5. Nebraska 91.5
6. Purdue 72.5
7. Illinois 47
1. Ohio State (34 first-place votes) 238
2. Penn State 192
3. Indiana 169
4. Michigan 144
5. Maryland 79
6. Rutgers 77.5
7. Michigan State 52.5
Iowa and Penn State were both picked solidly to finish in second place in their respective divisions.
Perhaps one surprise is the pollsters chose Indiana to finish ahead of Michigan. The Wolverines have a revamped coaching staff behind Jim Harbaugh and should be significantly improved at the QB position this season. Those two teams play each other on Nov. 6.
This poll has picked the Big Ten’s winner in three out of the last four seasons. The lone exception was 2019 — Michigan was the favorite but Ohio State ended up taking home the hardware.
Big Ten media days begin on Thursday morning.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.