After Signing Day, B1G teams climb in ESPN's way-too-early top 25
A month ago, ESPN came out with its way-too-early top 25 following the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. In it, four B1G teams were slotted in the top 16, only one of which, however, was in the top 10.
But that was before National Signing Day and the underclassmen deadline for the NFL draft.
That benefitted both Michigan and Ohio State, both of whom finished with top-five recruiting classes. As a result, both of them moved up in ESPN’s February top 25, which was produced by Mark Schlabach. The Wolverines rose one spot to No. 3 while the Buckeyes’ fourth-rated 2016 recruiting class helped them move into the preseason top 10.
Michigan State, which locked down its top class of the Mark Dantonio era, stood pat at No. 14. Iowa was dropped one spot to No. 17. Six B1G non-conference opponents are also in Schlabach’s top 25.
Here’s how Schlabach ranked the rest:
- Alabama
- Florida State
- Michigan
- Baylor
- Clemson
- LSU
- Oklahoma
- Stanford
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Houston
- Tennessee
- Ole Miss
- Michigan State
- TCU
- USC
- Iowa
- UNC
- Georgia
- Oregon
- UCLA
- Oklahoma State
- Washington
- Florida
- Boise State