The media have unanimously selected Ohio State to win the Big Ten, according to a poll of 40 voters, including the author of this piece. It could be a bad omen for the Buckeyes, considering the media are 0-for-4 in the annual Cleveland.com poll, having selected Nebraska in 2011, Michigan in 2012, Ohio State in 2013 and Michigan State this past season. The Buckeyes won the league last year but voters got scared off by Braxton Miller’s preseason injury, which thrust J.T Barrett, and then Cardale Jones, into the starting role at quarterback. The Buckeyes won the national title last year and could be even better, if possible, in 2015. Miller is shifting to receiver, leaving the quarterback spot to the now experienced duo of Barrett and Jones. And Ohio State’s defense features preseason Defensive Player of the Year Joey Bosa and two others who received votes in the Cleveland.com poll: linebacker Darron Lee and safety Vonn Bell. Buckeyes tailback Ezekiel Elliott, who earned MVP honors in the national title game by shredding Oregon for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 36 rushes, received 31 votes for Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook received three votes, two went to “Ohio State quarterbacks,” two more specifically to Barrett and one to Jones. Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt received two points in the voting (each voter named three players), while Northwestern players were shut out in the poll. CLEVELAND.COM BIG TEN MEDIA POLL RANK SCHOOL POINTS EAST 1 Ohio State (40) 280 2 Michigan State 240 3 Penn State 186.5 4 Michigan 163.5 5 Maryland 95.5 6 Rutgers 78 7 Indiana 76.5 WEST 1 Wisconsin (32) 272 2 Nebraska (5) 231.5 3 Minnesota (3) 197 4 Iowa 158.5 5 Northwestern 125 6 Illinois 77 7 Purdue 59 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP Ohio State def. Wisconsin (32) Ohio State def. Nebraska (5) Ohio State def. …
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