Maryland football picked 15th in 2026 preseason Big Ten media poll

Ahmed Ghafir
1 day ago
3 min read

With Big Ten Media Days set to begin this week and Maryland set to take the podium on Thursday, the annual unofficial Big Ten preseason poll has officially been released.

Maryland was picked to finish 15th in the Big Ten ahead of only Michigan State, Rutgers and Purdue. Northwestern drew three more points than Maryland to land at 14th, while Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana rounded out the top of the projected conference standings in order. Maryland landed at 15th in both the Cleveland.com and The Bill and Doug Show.

Maryland was picked to finish 16th in 2025, which came to fruition, after being picked to finish 11th during the 2024 season.

Both the preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year omitted Maryland on Cleveland.com's results despite senior linebacker Daniel Wingate a candidate to draw a vote after previously being named a preseason fourth-team All American selection by Phil Steele. Wingate did draw one vote for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in The Bill and Doug Show, the lone Terp represented.

Still, it's additional skepticism that Maryland will look to disprove as Mike Locksley prepares for year eight as head coach of the program. For the first time in three years, Maryland will enter fall camp -- set to begin on Aug. 5 -- without any battle at the top of the quarterback room as Malik Washington prepares for year two in the program. Maryland also ranks second among FBS teams in returning production (71%), trailing only Notre Dame, after the program retained the overwhelming majority of impact players from a young 2025 roster.

Cleveland.com Poll Results

2026 Big Ten Preseason Standings (Team (1st place) - points)

Ohio St (15) - 540
Oregon (11) - 527
Indiana (5) - 509
USC - 446
Michigan - 430
Penn State - 380
Washington - 366
Illinois - 364
Iowa - 361
Minnesota - 268
Nebraska - 246
Wisconsin - 207
UCLA - 199
Northwestern - 140
Maryland - 137
Michigan State - 99
Rutgers - 97
Purdue - 45

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (player - votes (1st))

WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State - 82 (21)

QB Dante Moore, Oregon - 62 (8)

QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State - 25 (2)

QB Jayden Maiava, USC - 7

QB Josh Hoover, Indiana - 5

RB Turbo Richard, Indiana - 1

QB Demond Williams, Washington - 1

OL Carter Smith, Indiana - 1

QB Drake Lindsey, Minnesota - 1

RB Bo Jackson, Ohio State - 1

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year (player - votes (1st))

DL Anthony Smith, Minnesota - 26 (2)

CB Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon - 25 (6)

SAF Koi Perich, Oregon - 22 (4)

DL Teitum Tuioti, Oregon - 22 (6)

DT A’Mauri Washington, Oregon - 20 (5)

DL Tyrqiue Tucker, Indiana - 17 (3)

DE John Henry Daley, Michigan - 15 (2)

LB Rolijah Hardy, Indiana - 8 (2)

DL Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon - 7

CB Jamari Sharpe, Indiana - 6

CB Zach Lutmer, Iowa - 4

SAF Earl Little, Ohio State - 3

DE Anthony Jones, Nebraska - 2

SAF Amare Ferrell, Indiana - 1

DE Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State - 1

SAF Jaylen McClain, Ohio State - 1

LB Isaiah Jones, Indiana - 1

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