Well, not everyone thinks Michigan is worthy of the B1G’s top preseason spot.

Unlike Fox and ESPN, Athlon Sports did not tab the Wolverines above the rest of the B1G in its preseason top 25. Athlon still had Michigan in its top five, but it had one B1G team slotted above the Wolverines.

That spot belonged to the team that won 42-13 in Ann Arbor last year.

Yes, Athlon Sports put Ohio State at No. 3 — two spots ahead of Michigan — in its preseason poll. That high preseason ranking came despite the fact that the Buckeyes return fewer starters than any other Power Five team.

Athlon even had OSU ahead of reigning national runner-up Clemson, which returns Heisman Trophy candidate Deshaun Watson. The ACC and B1G both had multiple teams in its preseason top 25.

That, however, was the only B1G surprise. Athlon had Michigan State and Iowa at No. 13 and No. 20, respectively.

Here’s Athlon’s complete top 25:

  1. Alabama
  2. Florida State
  3. Ohio State
  4. Clemson
  5. Michigan
  6. Oklahoma
  7. Tennessee
  8. Notre Dame
  9. LSU
  10. Ole Miss
  11. Washington
  12. Stanford
  13. Michigan State
  14. Baylor
  15. UCLA
  16. Houston
  17. Georgia
  18. TCU
  19. Louisville
  20. Iowa
  21. Florida
  22. North Carolina
  23. USC
  24. Oregon
  25. Oklahoma State