Michigan, Michigan State ranked No. 7 and No. 20 in preseason coaches poll

In-state rivals ranked in first major preseason poll

Joe Bachie/Photo: MSU Athletic Communications

Joe Dandron, Sports Director
August 2, 2019

The preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released early yesterday and two very familiar teams were ranked.

Michigan State, ranked No. 20, was doubled up by its rival – Michigan was ranked No. 7 in the poll.

At this time last year, MSU was picked as the No. 12 team in the nation in the country and Michigan was ranked close behind at the No. 14 spot.

The Spartans opened up training camp for the summer yesterday morning. As the team opened at the No. 20 spot, it was unsurprising as they finished last year with a 7-6 record following a loss to Oregon in the RedBox Bowl.

Michigan is coming off a 10-3 season – the third in four years – under Jim Harbaugh thus far. 

Wolverine fans are starting to get antsy as the pressure to win the Big Ten mounts. The Wolverines were given the top odds by the Westgate Vegas Sportsbook to win the conference and +250 odds to make the College Football Playoff, trailing only Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama and Clemson.

The rest of the country

This year’s top five was nearly identical to last August’s edition. 

In the top five, Clemson takes the No. 1 spot, followed by Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio State. Clemson took the No. 1 spot in this preseason coaches poll for the first time in school history. 

The rest of the top ten was finished out with Louisiana State at No. 6, Florida at No. 8 and Notre Dame at No. 9 followed by Texas at No. 10. Fellow Big Ten schools Penn State (No. 14), Wisconsin (No. 17), Iowa (No. 19) along with Northwestern at No. 25 we’re all ranked. The Big Ten had the most teams – with seven – ranked in the poll of any Power 5 conference. 

Twitter: @JosephDandronMI

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