Michigan, Michigan State land in Associated Press preseason Top 25 college football poll

Michigan and Michigan State are each coming off strong seasons. It appears expectations are the Wolverines and Spartans are capable of duplicating them.

Michigan is ranked No. 8 and Michigan State No. 15 in the Associated Press preseason college football Top 25 poll, released Monday.

With two of the best players in the country leading the way — and a championship game loss as motivation — Alabama is No. 1 for the second straight season and ninth time overall.

Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, national defensive player of year Will Anderson Jr. and the Crimson Tide received 54 of 63 first-place votes and 1,566 points.

Ohio State is No. 2 with six first-place votes (1,506 points) from the media panel and defending national champion Georgia is third with three first-place votes (1,455 points). Clemson is No. 4. Notre Dame rounds out the top five, setting up a tantalizing opener at Ohio State on Sept. 3.

Michigan finished No. 3 in the final rankings last season, and Michigan State was No. 9, marking the first time since 1999 the two in-state schools both finished in the AP's top 10.

Michigan is coming off a College Football Playoff berth last season, where it fell to eventual national champion Georgia in the Orange Bowl. Michigan's 12-2 season, included a win over Ohio State and the program’s first Big Ten championship since 2004. 

Michigan State went 11-2 in Mel Tucker's second season in East Lansing, leading the Spartans to a victory over the Wolverines and a win over Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl.

The Tide’s preseason No. 1 ranking is the seventh in 15 years under coach Nick Saban. Since the preseason rankings started in 1950, only Oklahoma with 10 has been No. 1 in the initial poll more often than Alabama.

The Crimson Tide started last season No. 1 and finished ranked No. 2 after losing the national championship game to the Southeastern Conference rival Bulldogs.

Alabama coach Nick Saban recently called 2021 a rebuilding season for his Tide dynasty, which has won six national titles over the last 13 years. He has a point.

Young was in his first season as a starter last year, playing behind an inexperienced offensive line. He was unfazed, throwing for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns.

Anderson was a force on the other side ball as Alabama broke in a back seven with mostly new starters. The sophomore led the nation in tackles for loss with 33 1/2, 111/2 more than No. 2 on the list.

Ohio State brings back a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback in C.J. Stroud while at Georgia, most of the key players from one of the best college defenses of the last 25 years are now in NFL. Still, quarterback Stetson Bennett and All-America tight end Brock Bowers return to a Bulldogs offense that could be even more explosive in 2022.

Texas A&M, which finished last season unranked despite handing Alabama its only regular-season loss, starts this season No. 6.

Defending Pac-12 champion Utah is seventh, the best preseason ranking in school history.

Associated Press Top 25

1. Alabama (54 first-place votes), 0-0, 1566 points (last season's ranking: 2)

2. Ohio State (6), 0-0, 1506 (6)

3. Georgia (3), 0-0, 1455 (1)

4. Clemson, 0-0, 1292 (14)

5. Notre Dame, 0-0, 1242 (8)

6. Texas A&M, 0-0, 1212 (NR)

7. Utah, 0-0, 1209 (12)

8. Michigan, 0-0, 1203 (3)

9. Oklahoma, 0-0, 956 (10)

10. Baylor, 0-0, 884 (5)

11. Oregon, 0-0, 831 (22)

12. Oklahoma State, 0-0, 814 (7)

13. NC State, 0-0, 752 (20)

14. Southern Cal, 0-0, 711 (NR)

15. Michigan State, 0-0, 631 (9)

16. Miami (Florida), 0-0, 476 (NR)

17. Pittsburgh, 0-0, 383 (13)

18. Wisconsin, 0-0,, 365 (NR)

19. Arkansas, 0-0, 348 (21)

20. Kentucky, 0-0, 332 (18)

21. Mississippi, 0-0, 324 (11)

22. Wake Forest, 0-0, 303 (15)

23. Cincinnati, 0-0, 265 (4)

24. Houston, 0-0, 263 (17)

25. BYU, 0-0, 234 (19)

Others receiving votes: Tennessee 180, Texas 164, Iowa 163, Penn State 160, LSU 55, Fresno State 32, Minnesota 31, UCF 27, Purdue 17, Mississippi State 15, Auburn 15, Florida 14, Kansas State 14, North Carolina 9, Boise State 5, Air Force 4, Appalachian State 4, South Carolina 2, UCLA 2, San Diego State 2, Utah State 2, Nebraska 1.