it is Media poll season and the Big 10 is stepping up to Batman we're going to take a look at the big 10 media poll give you our thoughts on it places we agree places we disagree now full transparency we will give you our predictions for the Big 10 conference for specific teams within the Big 10 conference for the national championship here very very soon on our live show okay so make sure you are subscribed right here to the on3 YouTube channel because this show the hard count full hourong episodes for you live and Living Color on this platform Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 11:00 a.m. eastern also you can find those hourlong episodes if you can't catch them live well obviously you can watch them back on demand because this is YouTube but you can also listen back to them via podcast so you type in the hard count with JD pel Apple Spotify we got you covered so appreciate y'all being subscribed appreciate yall rocking with us let's get right to this here right or let's uh let's get right to this let's get let's get right to it that's what I'm looking for all right so the media poll is as follows 1 through 18 no surprise you got Ohio State at one Oregon at two the Penn State NY lions at three Michigan at four Iowa at five USC at six Wisconsin at 7 Nebraska at eight Ruckers at nine Washington at 10 Maryland at 11 Minnesota at 12 Illinois at 13 Northwestern coming in at 14 UCLA at 15 Michigan State at 16 Indiana at 17 and Purdue at 18 so that's the poll no major surprises I'll say this I could see Michigan State maybe finishing a bit higher than 16 if Aiden Charles translates the way that I believe they would like him to translate in East laning it's a really talented guy coming over from Oregon state with Jonathan Smith uh that number five spot is really intriguing got Iowa at five right now I could see Wisconsin finishing there I could see USC finishing there I could see Nebraska finishing there obviously there's major question marks across those teams that you have to get answered Nebraska how does Dylan riola play USC do they get a defense Wisconsin does it all come together with Luke fickle and Co like there's there's some question marks you have to fill in there Iowa at 5 though I don't really have a problem with Penn State at 3 makes sense given their schedule we'll talk more about the lines here in just a little bit but to me the overall thought I have on this poll right now it's sort of boring but like yeah no real surprises pretty chalky that's the way that a media poll is supposed to look everyone kind of is falling into the same thoughts around these teams and these polls reflect that so that that's the the media pool I want us talk though a little bit about the uh the popular Big 10 Championship predictions Ohio State over Oregon is the most popular prediction out there followed by Oregon over Ohio State so the folks love the Buckey and the Ducks the Bucks and the Ducks going after in Indie Oregon's first year in the Big 10 Ohio State over Penn State is the third most popular followed by Ohio State over Michigan so Ohio State if we're uh keeping score at home and of course we are Ohio State St is included in each of these Championship Games whether you have them winning it or losing it they're in the dance Ohio state is included each of these I believe because of the obvious they have the highest roster talent in the entire conference and as we sit here in July roster Talent is pretty much the best indicator we have as to how you're going to be successful when it comes to the upcoming season now the beautiful thing about college football is uh it is a wacky sport it is a very bizarre sport you are dealing with 18 to 22 that also have to deal with college classes that have a lot less uh structure I I'll rephrase that maybe not less structure a lot more on your plate than you would if you're playing in the NFL you have a lot more things you have to juggle my point being here with that being your profile of athlete there's a lot more volatility I think with what can happen but when it comes down to Ohio State success in 2024 you really are just looking at the hinge point that is Will Howard is Will Howard the guy to elevate this roster and take them to the promise land sounds like a lot of pressure it is when you're the quarterback at Ohio State one of the most if not the most recognizable brands in the entire sport they know what they signed up for will Howard the thing that I love about him I've said it many times his mobility and his experience you can call quarterback power you can call read option on third and four now will they do that frequently I don't know but rest assured it's it's in it's in the Playbook you have that you have that available to you also We Can ad Li for you I love that it comes down to will Howard the defense is incredible the running back room is the best in the country the wide receiver room is probably the best in the country like they're going to be set up for a success roster wise can Will Howard Elevate them that's the big question now Oregon is is number two in this poll right here I mean the question with Oregon is how much can they follow the projected Trend because I think a lot of us looking at Oregon looking at what Dan Dan Ling's done there in two years and saying okay if that's uh if that's the current trend going on right now if he just gets better and better every year like do they take that perceived next step and become a conference title winning team we'll see but roster wise again I think they are up there with Ohio State for the best in the conference the poll reflects that there's not a ton to break down here with them there really isn't it's do you trust Dylan Gabriel to be the hand to glove fit that a lot of us perceive him to be with Will Stein's offense uh shout out Jesse Simonson because he actually used that EX phrasing that we're stealing right now that's the question I trust the skill players I trust the defense I trust the trenches like it all it all adds up to do you trust Dyan Gabriel and do you trust Dan Lanning to get this team to take that next step now Penn State at three I told you it makes sense to us do they have a better roster than Michigan I think that's Up For Debate I think when you look at Penn State in their path though they have the best path I believe of anybody to get to Indianapolis now will they do it remains to be seen but the only game that you look at for Penn State and say o I don't know about that one I don't I don't know about that one is the game against Ohio State and the good news for the folks in Happy Valley they have to come to you you get Ohio State at the crib no Oregon no Michigan it's all lined up here here for Penn State with this core nucleus of young Talent now going into another year together Drew Aller Nick Singleton KRON Allen Abdul Carter to name a few they're all back for one more go around now I'm not telling you that all those guys are going pro next year but I'm telling you some of them will so this is your window now even when they had the four team playoff this was the year that Penn State fans had circled can you get it done with this schedule with this roster remains to be seen now if you're Michigan this is really the fascinating part for me if you're Michigan and you are the defending national champions and you see this big 10 media poll you're picked to finish fourth not even top three now I don't pretend to have the best pulse in the world as to every single going on in an Arbor Michigan within that building but if we know anything about Chiron Moors Michigan they Thrive with that chip on their shoulder and I I mean it makes sense why they're at four they're 128th in the country out of 134 teams in returning production the media is not sure what to make of all these new characters but if you're Michigan you're like that's all we needed like Michael Jordan at that point it became personal that was all I needed how does that factor in we'll see but I'll say this again just because we don't know every single potential SL future star player name for Michigan in 2024 does not mean there's not a lot of dudes on this roster that have been waiting their turn been working in the shadows and are going to make a Big Splash in 2024 we credit Jim Harbaugh so much for his development of this roster from when he was there a lot of those guys are still on that roster just because they weren't starters last year doesn't mean they aren't ready for their moment so overall what's our take on this Championship prediction we'll give it to you soon but make sure you're locked in here because uh we're in this mode right now okay this is Media poll season prediction season is like on the doorstep make sure you're locked in here don't miss a minute of it also let me know how you feel like the media did in relation to this poll within the Big 10 conference excited to hear from y'all live on the air tomorrow 11:00 a.m. eastern Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday for you you don't catch it live again catch it on podcast you type in the hard count with JD pel Apple Spotify wherever you get them you can find us there hey we love y'all we appreciate y'all it's about that time we're going to keep this party rolling and we will see y'all next time hey y'all thanks so much for watching subscribe to the channel here to make sure you don't miss an episode of the hard count also be sure to check out other videos on the Onre YouTube channel