Ohio State opens the season at No. 1 in the women's hockey rankings, a statement of respect for a program that has become the standard. The Buckeyes sit just ahead of Wisconsin at No. 2 and Penn State at No. 3, forming a Big Ten triumvirate that owns the top of the poll before a single puck has dropped.
Minnesota checks in at No. 4, giving the Big Ten four of the top five spots — a conference flex that signals where the power truly resides this season. Northeastern, at No. 5, carries the flag for everyone else, the lone interloper in an otherwise Big Ten-dominated penthouse.
What the poll makes clear: the road to a national title runs through the Midwest. Every team enters at 0-0, which means every ranking here is earned on reputation and belief, not results. That changes soon enough.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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