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ESPN releases post-spring way-too-early top 25
Published:
Spring is in the books.
Say goodbye to light-contact exhibition games. The next time players that take the field will be far more meaningful, so naturally, the projections are already flowing.
On Monday, Fox Sports’ Stewart Mandel tabbed four B1G teams in his way-too-early top 25. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach followed suit. He tabbed the four expected B1G teams — Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State — in his post-spring top 25, two of which were in the top 10.
Much to the delights of Michigan fans, Schlabach was even higher on the Wolverines. He tabbed them higher than any B1G team, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering they return 14 starters.
Schlabach still had Ohio State, which only returns six starters, in his top 10, as well. The Buckeyes’ Week 3 opponent, Oklahoma, came in at No. 5.
Michigan State’s Week 3 opponent, Notre Dame, also cracked Schlabach’s top 10. There were six B1G non-conference opponents in his top 25.
Here’s what Schlabach’s way-too-early top 25 looked like:
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Oklahoma
- LSU
- Baylor
- Stanford
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- USC
- Georgia
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma State
- Michigan State
- Washington
- Houston
- UNC
- Oregon
- Texas A&M
- UCLA
- Iowa
- Miami (FL)
- Louisville
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.