ESPN releases preseason Top-25 power rankings poll, including 5 B1G teams

ESPN has released its preseason power rankings for the 2021 college football season.

Five Big Ten teams made the cut, including Ohio State at No. 5 overall. The Buckeyes are still favored to win the Big Ten, but there was apparently enough uncertainty at quarterback and other key positions to drop them out of the top four.

Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and Penn State each also made the top-25, although none of those schools were included in the Top-15.

Michigan is a notable omission after the Wolverines struggled last season. Michigan went just 2-4 and revamped its coaching staff underneath Jim Harbaugh this offseason.

Here’s the full Top 25, which was aired on ESPN’s “College Football 2021: The Power Rankings” show on Tuesday night:

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Clemson
4. Georgia
5. Ohio State
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa State
8. Oregon
9. Notre Dame
10. North Carolina
11. Cincinnati
12. Florida
13. USC
14. LSU
15. Miami
16. Wisconsin
17. Indiana
18. Iowa
19. Washington
20. Penn State
21. Texas
22. Coastal Carolina
23. Louisiana
24. Ole Miss
25. Arizona State

The SEC led the way with six teams making this initial top-25. 33 ESPN experts voted on the poll.

The Big Ten’s 2021 season begins on Aug. 28 when Illinois hosts Nebraska.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.