DETROIT – High expectations have been set for this year's upcoming college football season in Michigan, and on Thursday, the Coaches Poll added even more fuel to the fire.
The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans both debuted in with high rankings in the preseason poll, with Michigan landing at No. 8 and MSU checking in at No. 11.
After winning 10 games in Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach, Michigan's stock rose throughout the off-season and landed the program in the top 10. It marks Michigan's first preseason appearance in the Coaches Poll since 2013 and first top 10 ranking since 2012, when the Wolverines also began the season at No. 8.
Michigan State, which won the Big Ten title and played in the College Football Playoff last season, is outside the preseason top 10 for the first time in three years. MSU was preseason No. 8 in 2014 and preseason No. 6 in 2015.
Four teams from the Big Ten made the top 25, with Ohio State leading the way at No. 5 and Iowa at No. 15. Wisconsin (No. 27), Northwestern (No. 34), Nebraska (No. 38) and Indiana (No. 49) also received votes in the poll.
Defending national champion Alabama begins the season atop the rankings while defending runner-up Clemson is second. Alabama (55), Clemson (7), Florida State (1) and Tennessee (1) combined to receive the 64 first-place votes.
Here's a look at the entire top 25: