Buckeyes Sit Atop Preseason Poll as New Era Begins

Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, and Northeastern occupy the top five spots in the preseason women's hockey poll, with all five programs entering the slate at 0-0 and carrying identical blank-slate pressure.

The Buckeyes grab the No. 1 chair, and that's no courtesy nod — it's a statement of respect for a program that has built something sustainable at the highest level. Wisconsin and Penn State follow close behind, two programs with entirely different pedigrees but the same hunger. The Badgers carry their customary weight, while the Nittany Lions represent the rising force that nobody wants to face.

Minnesota at four and the Huskies at five round out a premier quintet where the margin between positions is razor-thin. Every team in this group enters with a clean record and a legitimate claim. The poll doesn't hand out trophies — it draws a starting line. The race begins now.