CHICAGO - Ohio State was named the pre-season favorite to win a fifth straight Big Ten championship Monday morning in a poll of media attending the conference's two-day football meetings at the downtown Hyatt Regency hotel.

Ohio State sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor was chosen as the Big Ten pre-season offensive player of the year after last season being named the league's freshman of the year. Pryor had an 8-1 record as a starter, and led the conference in passing efficiency in Big Ten games - the first freshman to do so.

Penn State was picked to finish second in the conference, while Michigan State was chosen third. Penn State and Ohio State finished with identical 7-1 conference records last season, while Michigan State went 6-2 in the Big Ten.

Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones was named the preseason defensive player of the year.