Ohio State is the preseason pick to win the Big Ten football championship in 2018 — but just barely over Wisconsin.

In a preseason poll of 28 sportswriters around the Big Ten conducted by cleveland.com, Ohio State received 14 votes to win the title, Wisconsin 13. Michigan State received the other first-place vote. In last year's Big Ten title game, the Buckeyes beat the Badgers 27-21.

Sportswriters also predicted the order of finish in the East and West divisions, and they had Ohio State and Wisconsin advancing to the Big Ten title game. The Gophers were picked to finish sixth in the West, ahead of only Illinois

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley edged Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor for Big Ten Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa was an overwhelming choice for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Randy Johnson

• Gophers senior Jared Weyler was one of 58 players named to the fall watch list for the Rimington Trophy, given to college football's top center.

Ex-champion McCain leads State Open by shot

Andrew McCain shot a 4-under 68 to take a ones-shot lead after the first round of the 101st Minnesota State Open at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids. He was the 2015 champion of the event at Mendakota Country Club.

Four golfers — Josh Whalen, Jay Norman, Ben Hauge and Jered Gusso — were tied for second with 69s. Two-time defending champion Ben Greve was two shots back.

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• Edina High School named assistant Scott Johnson its boys' swimming and diving coach.