Shortly before the Big Ten started its annual media sessions, its expected top two teams got some early respect — Ohio State is ranked No. 1 and Michigan State No. 6 in the Amway Coaches Poll.

That’s MSU’s highest preseason ranking in the coaches poll since it began in 1991. The previous high was a year ago, when MSU started No. 8 on the way to its second straight top-five finish.

The defending national champion Buckeyes got 62 of 64 first-place votes, with No. 2 TCU and No. 3 Alabama getting one apiece. Oregon, which visits MSU on Sept. 12, was ranked No. 5, one spot behind Baylor. - Read more at Freep.com