The Buckeyes sit No. 1 to start the season, and nobody who watched last year's bracket needs an explanation. Ohio State earned the top line the old-fashioned way — by being the last team standing — and now carries the target every champion wears into opening weekend.
The story isn't just Columbus, though. It's the WCHA's iron grip on the poll. Wisconsin at No. 2, Penn State at No. 3, and Minnesota at No. 4 mean four of the five best teams in the country share a conference schedule. The Nittany Lions at three is the headline within the headline — a program announcing it belongs in the penthouse, not just knocking on the door.
Northeastern at No. 5 stands as the lone gatekeeper from outside the WCHA, carrying the banner for everyone else. The Huskies know the math: survive the non-conference gauntlet, and the table is set for a March collision. Five teams, zero games played, one promise — this race is going to be a blast.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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