Big Ten poll overrates Michigan, underrates USC and Iowa for 2026-27

Illinois was tabbed to win the Big Ten and received 18 first-place votes in the annual media poll conducted by The Columbus Dispatch, according to www.cbssports.com. This year, three teams received a first-place vote: Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan.

Michigan is predicted to finish third in the poll, but the article labels the Wolverines as overrated. The exact impact of Dusty May's departure and Brandon McCoy Jr.'s injury on Michigan's season is not confirmed.

The article's author says he is lower on Michigan this season because it lost Dusty May late in the offseason to the Dallas Mavericks and Brandon McCoy Jr. tore his ACL during the Wolverines' European Tour in Lithuania. McCoy was a five-star freshman who might've been a lottery pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, per www.cbssports.com.

The talent on Michigan's roster is still really good, according to the article, but it's very possible Michigan takes a step back this season. The teams behind the Wolverines in the polls — especially USC and UCLA — could finish in front of them in the final Big Ten standings.

If Trey McKenney takes a Year 2 jump as many expect, Michigan will remain in the mix, the article notes. That's the counterweight to the departures — but the poll's third-place projection may be leaning too heavily on last year's national title run.

MICHIGAN'S TITLE RUN AND ROSTER CHANGES

Last season, only two teams — Purdue and Michigan — received a first-place vote to win the Big Ten in the preseason media poll, per www.cbssports.com. That prediction proved correct: the two met in the Big Ten title game hours before Selection Sunday.

Purdue beat Michigan in that championship, but the Wolverines responded by winning six consecutive games after the loss, per www.cbssports.com. That run ended with a national title, and the article says last season's Michigan team finished as one of the most dominant national title teams this century.

The roster that did it is mostly gone. Dusty May left late in the offseason for the Dallas Mavericks, and five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. tore his ACL during the Wolverines' European Tour in Lithuania, per www.cbssports.com.

The talent still on Michigan's roster is really good, according to the article, but it's very possible the Wolverines take a step back this season. Whether that actually happens is not confirmed.