Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, and Northeastern stand as the preseason top five in women's hockey, setting the stage for what promises to be a collision course of bluebloods and rising powers.
The Buckeyes claim the No. 1 seat, with the Badgers and Nittany Lions close behind — a trio that combined for exactly zero losses so far, because nobody has played yet. That's the beauty of a preseason poll: it's a verdict on respect, earned through years of building, not weeks of results.
What jumps out is Penn State at No. 3. The Nittany Lions sitting above Minnesota and Northeastern tells you the voters see something brewing in Happy Valley — a program no longer knocking on the door but ready to kick it open. The Golden Gophers and Huskies round out a top five where every single team has a legitimate case to lift a trophy come March. The race starts now.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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