CHICAGO -- The Daily Collegian did not vote for Terrelle Pryor as its preseason Big Ten offensive player of the year. There's our Steve Spurrier admission for the day.

Even Jim Tressel admitted to being surprised by Pryor's honor, and I can only wonder when's the last time the guy tabbed as the preseason player of the year wasn't even brought by his school to the conference media events.

Pryor became the first sophomore to be recognized with such a distinction since Maurice Clarett, another Buckeye, in 2003. (Insert joke here.)

But the Pryor preseason selection was just that -- a preseason selection.

To say Pryor is better than Daryll Clark or even Juice Williams at this point would be a ridiculous statement, but that belittles the fact that the honor is not who is the best player but who will be by season's end.

For one, the media also picked Ohio State to win the conference. Assuming things play out that way (and, given the nation's relative lack of surprise with that pick, it's a good bet many think they just might), odds are Pryor, the Buckeyes' signal-caller, will have played a huge role in that feat.

His numbers were far from flattering last season, but you can't put a price on the experience that he gained as a true freshman starting quarterback on a Top-10 team. It's safe to assume Pryor will only get better as time progresses, and it's easy to forget the lofty praises he received as a high school stud just two years ago.

For my money, I'd take Clark over Pryor right now without hesitation. Looking ahead to the season, however, Clark may have a more difficult time with a questionable offensive line protecting him and an unproven group of receivers to throw to.

What about Juice, he of the three-year starting status and video game-like numbers?

Well, in this blog's humble opinion, the Illini's leader takes a backseat in Champaign, Ill. to his favorite target, Arrelious Benn, the guy we think will have deserved it by the end of the year. (He'll have to catch a few more balls in the end zone, but we're confident.)

Benn probably won't win it, however, considering there have only been two previous wide receivers to be tabbed as the actual Big Ten offensive player of the year. (A pair of Wolverines, actually: Desmond Howard in 1991 and Braylon Edwards in 2004.)

And with that, Big Ten media days -- and the conference's own, albeit minor episode of "Votegate" -- has come to an end.

-Fortuna