Preseason All-Big Ten team, awards; USA TODAY Sports Network

Jeremiah Smith was one of five unanimous selections and the preseason player of the year in USA TODAY Sports Network’s preseason All-Big Ten recognitions.Purdue was one of five teams without a vote, but two of its former players were selected as top players.

INDIANAPOLIS — Jeremiah Smith sealed Ohio State’s national championship win over Notre Dame by hauling in a deep fade.

The quarterback will change for the Buckeyes but Smith is an immediate threat as one of college football’s best playmakers. He was picked by a select group of USA TODAY Sports Network writers to win preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

He was one of five unanimous selections. Others included: Iowa center Logan Jones, Penn State offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada.

Reporters representing the bicoastal conference named their top players by position, specialists, picked preseason awards and ranked order of finish. Thirteen of the 18 teams had a player receiving a vote. Programs not represented included Wisconsin, Nebraska, Rutgers, Maryland and Purdue, which was the consensus last-place team in predicted order of finish. And, as the transfer portal era would have it, two former Boilermakers — safety Dillon Thieneman and tight end Max Klare — made the All-Big Ten team.

Four different coaches were on ballots, but it was Penn State’s James Franklin who was selected Big Ten Coach of the Year. His Nittany Lions were the writers’ pick to win the Big Ten, a breakthrough occurrence since the 2016 title, their lone one during the division era. Yet they could join their former division rivals, Ohio State and Michigan, in leading the Big Ten to a third straight national championship.

As Big Ten football media days kicks off in Las Vegas on Tuesday, here are the picks (italicized denotes unanimous selection).

USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 preseason All-Big Ten offense

Quarterback: Drew Allar, Penn State

Running back (2): Jonah Coleman, Washington; Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Wide receiver (2): Elijah Sarratt, Indiana; Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Tight end: Max Klare, Ohio State

Offensive tackle (2): Gennings Dunker, Iowa; Isaiah World, Oregon

Offensive guard (2): Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State; Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

Offensive center: Logan Jones, Iowa

USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 preseason All-Big Ten defense

Defensive line (4): Zane Durant, Penn State; Gabe Jacas, Illinois; Mikail Kamara, Indiana; Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Linebacker (3): Bryce Boettcher, Oregon; Aiden Fisher, Indiana; Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Defensive backs (4): Caleb Downs, Ohio State; D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana; Dillon Thieneman, Oregon; (tie) Koi Perich, Minnesota and Xavier Scott, Illinois

USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 preseason All-Big Ten specialists

Kicker: Dominic Zvada, Michigan

Punter: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State

All-purpose: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 preseason Big Ten awards

Player of the year: Jeremiah Smith, wide receiver, Ohio State

Coach of the year: James Franklin, Penn State

Newcomer of the year: Makhi Hughes, running back, Oregon

Aaron Ferguson is assistant sports editor at the Indianapolis Star. He coordinates Big Ten polls, rankings, enterprise and more for the USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on Twitter/X at @Sports_Aaron, Instagram at a_ferg_writes, TikTok at sports_aaron, Reddit at sports_aaron and BlueSky at sportsaaron.bsky.social.