Athlon Sports reveals pre-spring rankings for all 130 FBS teams

Spring football practice is getting underway around the country. While kickoff is still months away, this is more or less turns the page from 2018 to 2019.

Athlon Sports has ranked all 130 teams heading into spring. Steven Lassan has Ohio State as the highest-ranked B1G, checking in at No. 5 overall behind No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 3 Georgia, No. 2 Clemson and No. 1 Alabama.

Here’s why Lassan is high on the Buckeyes in 2019:

All eyes in Columbus will be on new coach Ryan Day this season, and the cupboard is stocked for another run at the Big Ten title and CFB Playoff. Georgia transfer quarterback Justin Fields should thrive under Day’s watch, with running back J.K. Dobbins and receivers K.J. Hill, Chris Olave and Austin Mack providing plenty of options in the passing game. Ohio State’s defense slipped on the stat sheet last fall, but Day is hoping veteran Greg Mattison and co-coordinator Jeff Hafley return this unit to elite status.

After OSU, familiar faces Michigan, Penn State, Iowa and Wisconsin are next in line. Lassan sees a big step forward in Year 2 under Scott Frost for Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers check in at No. 19.

Here’s where every B1G is ranked:

• No. 5 – Ohio State
• No. 8 – Michigan
• No. 13 – Penn State
• No. 17 – Iowa
• No. 18 – Wisconsin
• No. 19 – Nebraska
• No. 21 – Northwestern
• No. 26 – Michigan State
• No. 35 – Minnesota
• No. 54 – Purdue
• No. 59 – Indiana
• No. 70 – Maryland
• No. 85 – Illinois
• No. 107 – Rutgers

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.