Michigan State or Illinois? Big Ten basketball preseason ballot reveals razor-thin favourite

The Big Ten finally ended its males’s basketball national title drought thanks to Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines. May left for the NBA, so the throne is vacant. Can in-state rival Michigan State take the crown?

We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cowl Big Ten faculties for their preseason predictions, all-conference groups and preseason awards forward of Big Ten media days, which run Oct. 8 in Rosemont, Illinois.

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It was a two-horse for the prime spot between Michigan State and Illinois, with the Spartans edging it out by one level (280-279).

Jeremy Fears Jr. was chosen as preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and was the only unanimous All-Big Ten choose. Here’s a look at how our writers think the 2026-27 season will shake out in the Big Ten:

From court to campout: Tom Izzo gets early peek at Michigan State basketball

Big Ten basketball preseason ballot, predicted order of end

2026-27 preseason All-Big Ten basketball staff

FIRST TEAM

* denotes unanimous choice

• Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State*

SECOND TEAM

• Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois

• John Mobley Jr., Ohio State

Also receiving votes (listed by vote rely): Coen Carr, Michigan State; Markus Burton, Indiana; Aiden Sherrell, Indiana; Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois; Nikola Kusturica, UCLA; Trent Perry, UCLA; KJ Lewis, USC; Tariq Francis, Rutgers; Stefan Vaaks, Illinois; Alijah Arenas, USC; Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue; Braden Frager, Nebraska; C.J. Cox, Purdue; Cade Tyson, Minnesota; Omer Mayer, Purdue; Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA; Jaylen Petty, UCLA; Anthony Thompson, Ohio State; JP Estrella, Michigan; Jacob Cofie, USC.

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Big Ten basketball preseason Player of the Year

Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State

Fears averaged 15.2 factors and a league-leading 9.4 assists per recreation last season on manner to a first-team All-Big Ten choice. He landed on quite a few All-America groups last 12 months and enters the 2026-27 season on shortlists for national participant of the 12 months.

Also receiving votes: David Mirkovic, Illinois; Trey McKenney, Michigan.

Big Ten basketball preseason Newcomer of the Year (non-freshman)

Stefan Vaaks, Illinois

Brad Underwood sure does love him some European. This 6-7 Estonian switch from Providence averaged 15.8 factors per recreation last season and led the Big East with 91 made 3s (at a 35% clip). The Illini lost their prime 3-point shooters from last season (Keaton Wagler and Ben Humrichous), so Vaaks fills a key void.

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Also receiving votes: Markus Burton, Indiana; KJ Lewis, USC; Aiden Sherrell, Indiana; Jaylen Petty, UCLA; Moustapha Thiam, Michigan.

Big Ten basketball preseason Freshman of the Year

Anthony Thompson, Ohio State

A top-10 national recruit, Thompson is the highest-ranked Buckeyes recruit since Jared Sullinger in 2010 and the program’s first McDonald’s All American since D’Angelo Russell in 2014. The 6-9 Ohio native has a 7-3 wingspan averaged 24.9 factors and 7.9 rebounds and has vary that extends to the 3-point arc.

Also receiving votes: Nikola Kusturica, UCLA; Christian Collins, USC; Quentin Coleman, Illinois; Bab Oladotun, Maryland.

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Poll individuals: Nathan Baird (IndyStar), John Steppe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Tyler Tachman (Des Moines Register), Connor Earegood (Detroit News), Adam Jardy (Columbus Dispatch), Zach Osterman (IndyStar), Jordan Mendoza (USA TODAY), Sam King (Lafayette Journal & Courier), Jerry Carino (Asbury Park Press), Chris Solari (Detroit Free Press), Graham Couch (Lansing State Journal), Michael Niziolek (Bloomington Herald-Times), Tony Garcia (Detroit Free Press), Chad Leistikow (Des Moines Register), John Leuzzi (USA TODAY Network), Craig Meyer (USA TODAY Network).

This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan State or Illinois? Big Ten basketball preseason ballot reveals razor-thin favourite