Writers poll: Michigan picked third in East, Michigan State fourth

Detroit Free Press

Michigan Wolverines QB Wilton Speight signals for the first down against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

It’s Ohio State and everyone else apparently.

In the seventh annual Big Ten writers' preseason poll, run by cleveland.com, the Buckeyes were the overwhelming pick to win the East Division and the conference title game this season.

In votes from 38 members of the media, Penn State finished second in the East, followed by Michigan and Michigan State. Wisconsin was picked to win the West Division.

The voting breakdown:

EAST

1. Ohio State 260 (34 first-place votes)
2. Penn State 231.5 (7 first-place votes)
3. Michigan 192 (1 first-place vote)
4. Michigan State 128
5. Indiana 114
6. Maryland 100.5
7. Rutgers 38
(first-place votes equal more than 38 because of some ties for first)

WEST

1. Wisconsin 259 (31 first-place votes)
2. Northwestern 219 (5 first-place votes)
3. Nebraska 176.5 (2 first-place votes)
4. Iowa 164.5
5. Minnesota 131
6. Purdue 57
6. Illinois 57

Big Ten championship game

Ohio State over Wisconsin (22)
Ohio State over Northwestern (5)
Ohio State over Nebraska (2)
Wisconsin over Ohio State (3)
Wisconsin over Penn State (1)
Penn State over Wisconsin (4)
Michigan over Wisconsin (1)

Big Ten champ

Ohio State (29)
Wisconsin (4)
Penn State (4)
Michigan (1)

College football playoff

26 voters said Ohio State will make playoff
4 said Wisconsin will make playoff
3 said Penn State will make playoff
1 said Michigan will make playoff
3 said both Ohio State and Penn State will make playoff
1 said both Ohio State and Wisconsin will make playoff
No voters said the Big Ten will have zero playoff teams

Offensive Player of the Year

Saquon Barkley, Penn State, 103 points (30 first-place votes)
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State, 59 points (5 first-place votes)
Trace McSorley, Penn State, 30 points (2 first-place votes)
Justin Jackson, Northwestern, 25 points, (1 first-place vote)
Mike Weber, Ohio State, 2 points
L.J. Scott, Michigan State, 2 points
Alex Hornibrook, Wisconsin, 2 points
Rodney Smith, Minnesota, 2 points
Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin, 1 point
Simmie Cobbs, Indiana, 1 point
Jamarco Jones, Ohio State, 1 point

Defensive Player of the Year

Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State, 61 points (12 first-place votes)
Josey Jewell, Iowa, 59 points (11 first-place votes)
Rashan Gary, Michigan, 23 points (3 first-place votes)
Tegray Scales, Indiana, 19 points (4 first-place votes)
Jerome Baker, Ohio State, 12 points (2 first-place votes)
Sam Hubbard, Ohio State, 11 points (2 first-place votes)
Jack Cichy, Wisconsin, 10 points (1 first-place vote)
Maurice Hurst, Michigan, 9 points (1 first-place vote)
Marcus Allen, Penn State, 9 points
T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin, 7 points (1 first-place vote)
Nick Bosa, Ohio State, 4 points (1 first-place vote)
Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern, 2 points
Steven Richardson, Minnesota, 1 point
Blessuan Austin, Rutgers, 1 point