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The Big Ten is back in the game after looking like it was destined to sit out this fall.
While the only ranking of true importance is the College Football Playoff rankings, given that it’s what determines who gets to challenge for a national championship, the other polls give an idea of what the media and coaches are thinking in regards to the hierarchy in college football.
Then, there’s power rankings. While we won’t know — possibly for some time, given that the Big Ten doesn’t kick off until Oct. 23-24 — where it stands in the national pecking order.
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Among the prevalent media that puts out power rankings, our mothership, USA TODAY Sports, often sees Paul Myerberg take a stab at where things stand from a national perspective in college football. Now, with Big Ten teams added back in, Myerberg ranks Michigan at No. 13 overall, right where it was before the season was postponed.
As far as likely opponents this year, USA TODAY Sports has them as follows:
- No. 2 Ohio State
- No. 6 Penn State
- No. 15 Wisconsin
- No. 33 Minnesota
- No. 38 Indiana
- No. 57 Purdue
- No. 66 Michigan State
- No. 70 Maryland
- No. 86 Rutgers
For now, the schedule has yet to be revealed, but Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez said on Big Ten Network on Wednesday morning that it will likely be released later this week.