Ohio State sits atop the preseason poll at No. 1, with Wisconsin and Penn State rounding out the top three — a familiar cast at the top with one notable newcomer crashing the party.
The Buckeyes and Badgers occupying the first two slots is business as usual for the sport's two heavyweights, but Penn State at No. 3 is the headline. The Nittany Lions haven't just cracked the conversation — they've been installed as a legitimate title contender before the puck has even dropped. That's a program announcing it has arrived.
Minnesota at No. 4 and Northeastern at No. 5 round out a top tier where the margin between hoisting a trophy and going home empty is razor-thin. Every team starts at 0-0, but the poll has already drawn the battle lines: the Big Ten's grip on the top four is real, and the race begins now.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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