5 biggest question marks from Big Ten preseason rankings 2024 ft. Michigan

The Big Ten tries to avoid preseason ranking issues. There is no official Big Ten preseason poll. Instead, various media entities conduct their own polls, with Cleveland.com's poll perhaps the most complete.

Just because it's not officially affiliated with the Big Ten doesn't mean theose preseason picks lack drama. In fact, here are five significant snubs from those preseason Big Ten rankings.

5 biggest question marks from Big Ten Preseason rankings 2024

Iowa and coach Kirk Ferentz were chosen fifth in the Big Ten via Cleveland.com's annual league media poll. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

#1. Michigan No. 4?

Yes, the Wolverines lost their coach, their quarterback, and several significant impact players on each side of the football. But a season after winning the Big Ten's first national title since Ohio State's 2014 title, the Wolverines open behind not only the Buckeyes and new league member Oregon, but perennial underachiever Penn State.

To say that's surprising is an understatement. Michigan has won the last three games in the series with the Nittany Lions. While they won't play each other, Michigan is still feeling a little disrepect here.

#2. An offensively broken Iowa at No. 5?

Yes, Iowa will typically have an outstanding defense in 2024. But putting the punchless Hawkeyes fifth overall in the league feels awfully optmistic. In the last two seasons, Iowa has averaged 17.7 and then 15.4 points per game. They picked up an anemic 3.9 yards per play last year and posted a -7 turnover margin.

Yes, Iowa brought in new coordinator Tim Lester. But a team with a massive offensive hole will struggle to keep up in an eye more high-powered Big Ten.

#3. USC sixth?

The Trojans could be a national title dark horse, but the Big Ten voters picked the Trojans as just the No. 6 team in the league. Putting USC and its offense that scored 41.4 and 41.8 points per game in the last two years behind a team that averaged 15.4 points per game last year is really something.

Miller Moss and the Trojans will play a tough schedule, particularly out of conference, with an opener against LSU and a finale against Notre Dame. But they've got top flight potential.

#4. Why is Nebraska in the top half of the league?

Take a team with seven consecutive losing seasons and drop them into one of the toughest possible leagues in college football. Picking Nebraska eighth feels like an exercise in backward-looking history. The Huskers haven't reached .500 in league play since 2016.

Nebraska will play Ohio State, USC, Wisconsin, and Iowa within their Big Ten schedule. The Huskers look like a safe bet for the lower half of the Big Ten in 2024.

#5. Is Washington too low?

A year ago, Washington was a College Football Playoff team. Now they're picked 10th in the Big Ten preseason. Yes, two spots behind a team with seven straight losing seasons.

The argument isn't whether Washington gets back to the College Football Playoff. It's whether picking the team in the lower half of its conference is just blatantly unfair. Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers hopes to make that case clearly at quarterback.

Which Big Ten rankings were significant surprises to you? Let us hear your thoughts below in our comments section!