Ohio State opens the season as the No. 1 team in the land, leading a preseason top five that reads like a who's who of college women's hockey royalty. The Buckeyes sit just ahead of No. 2 Wisconsin and No. 3 Penn State, two programs with championship DNA and rosters built to chase hardware from opening puck drop.
Minnesota checks in at No. 4, giving the Big Ten a stranglehold on four of the five top spots, while No. 5 Northeastern represents the East Coast's early standard-bearer. With every team sitting at 0-0, the poll is a clean slate — a nod to reputation, returning talent, and the belief that these five have separated themselves before a single shift is played.
The message is clear: the road to a national title likely runs through the Midwest, but the Huskies aren't conceding anything. The race starts now.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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