Six Big Ten teams crack preseason AP Top 25

This season begins a new era for college football. From an expanded playoff format to new-look conferences, the sport will look a lot different this year than in years past.

In Monday’s preseason AP Top 25, six teams from the Big Ten cracked the Top 25. The SEC and Big Ten dominated this poll, combining for 15 of the 25 spots.

The two frontrunners to win the conference, Ohio State and Oregon, are ranked No. 2 and 3 respectively. Ryan Day enters the season with a lot of pressure on his shoulders and a talented Buckeye roster at his disposal.

On the other hand, Dan Lanning and the Ducks, led by Heisman Trophy favorite quarterback Dylan Gabriel, hope to make a statement in their first year in the Big Ten.

Rounding out the Big Ten teams in the Top 10 are Penn State at No. 8 and Michigan at No. 9. Penn State hopes to get over the hump with James Franklin at the helm, aiming to win their first Big Ten championship since 2016.

It will also be interesting to see how the new-look Wolverines, led by Sherrone Moore, handle the pressure of off-the-field chatter and multiple departures from last year’s national championship team.

The USC Trojans come in at No. 23 in this edition’s AP Top 25. Can Lincoln Riley continue his quarterback magic with Miller Moss as the starter? Or will a demanding schedule get in the way of their Big Ten title aspirations?

Iowa barely makes the cut, coming in at No. 25. Looking to have another strong defense this year, we’ll see if Tim Lester can fix some of the offensive struggles the Hawkeyes had last season.

Having nearly half the conference in the conversation for the top 25 is an excellent showing from one of the premier leagues in the country.