Idle Big Ten Has Six Teams Make AP Top 25

Talk about spurring thoughts of “what could have been.”  The Associated Press came out yesterday with its preseason Top 25 and six Big Ten football teams made the rankings. 

Ohio State was highest at number 2, trailing only Clemson.  Other ranked teams from the Big Ten, which will not play football this fall due to COVID-19, include Penn State at 7, Wisconsin at 12, Michigan at 16, Minnesota at 19 and Iowa at number 24. 

Only the SEC, with seven, had more teams in the AP rankings than the Big Ten.

Meantime, the College Football Playoff still plans to rank 25 teams each week but has pushed back its schedule.  The first rankings will be released November 17th, two weeks later than planned. 

The pandemic has caused the 10 major college conferences to rearrange their schedules.  Some are delaying their season openers until September 26th. 

But, the playoff dates and sites remain in place.  The semifinals are set for January 1st at the Rose and Sugar Bowls.  The championship game is slated for January 11th in Miami Gardens, Florida.