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AP Top 25 Poll Releases Preseason Rankings

The AP Top 25 poll released their preseason rankings at 10 a.m. ET Sunday. Four Big Ten teams made the top 25. However, the conference could have received more praise from the voters. It seems the league still has some ground to make up in the national perception.

Overall, the Big Ten East has three teams in the top 12. The Big Ten’s highest-rated team is the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes. The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines sit directly behind the Buckeyes. The teams are set for a huge matchup in the season finale. In addition, the Buckeyes and Wolverines each received one first-place vote.

The No. 12 Michigan State Spartans didn’t make the Top 10. However, they face three Top 10 teams, including the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the non-conference schedule. The Spartans have a tremendous defense coming back. They also return their three best running backs. Their College Football Playoff hopes depend on the development of Tyler O’Connor at quarterback.

The No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes finished the 2015 season with two straight losses. Their low ranking should add more fuel to the Hawkeyes’ quest of back to back Big Ten West titles. They also have a favorable schedule.

The rest of the Big Ten didn’t receive enough votes. That means Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats, and Nebraska Cornhuskers were left out of the Top 25. More importantly, the Badgers have the toughest schedule in college football. They open the season against the No. 5 LSU Tigers. Due to the tough schedule, there’s a chance the Badgers won’t ever make the AP Top 25 poll in 2016.

The SEC leads all conferences with six teams in the rankings. The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide received 33 first-place votes. The rest of the Top 5 includes No. 2 Clemson Tigers, No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners, and No. 4 Florida State Seminoles, along with the aforementioned No. 5 Tigers.

There are two teams not affiliated with power five programs. The 10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Ind) and No. 15 Houston Cougars (AAC) have early season tussles made for TV.

AP Top 25 Poll

  1. Alabama Crimson Tide
  2. Clemson Tigers
  3. Oklahoma Sooners
  4. Florida State Seminoles
  5. LSU Tigers
  6. Ohio State Buckeyes
  7. Michigan Wolverines
  8. Stanford Cardinal
  9. Tennessee Volunteers
  10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
  11. Ole Miss Rebels
  12. Michigan State Spartans
  13. TCU Horned Frogs
  14. Washington Huskies
  15. Houston Cougars
  16. UCLA Bruins
  17. Iowa Hawkeyes
  18. Georgia Bulldogs
  19. Louisville Cardinals
  20. USC Trojans
  21. Oklahoma State Cowboys
  22. North Carolina Tar Heels
  23. Baylor Bears
  24. Oregon Ducks
  25. Florida Gators
Lyle Harrison

Lyle Harrison

Big Ten Lead Writer at The Runner Sports
We hear this guy likes to talk about football and stuff. You may learn something, you may even teach things. But what a wonderful world cooked food brings.
Lyle Harrison

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