Ohio State opens the season at No. 1, leading a top five where every team enters with a clean slate and zero previous ranking — a fresh start for the sport's power programs.
The Buckeyes edge out Wisconsin and Penn State, who slot in at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, setting up what looks like a three-team sprint from the opening faceoff. Minnesota follows at No. 4, with Northeastern rounding out the top five.
What the poll really tells us: the road to a title runs through the Midwest. Four of the five ranked teams call the heartland home, and with no games played yet, every spot is a reputation earned the hard way. The beauty of a preseason poll is that it's a promise — now someone has to go keep it.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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