The preseason poll is a blank canvas, and four teams painted themselves into the top four from scratch. Michigan, North Dakota, Michigan State, and Western Michigan all enter at 0-0 with no prior ranking to their name — a clean-slate coronation that says everything about expectation and nothing about results. Yet.
The Wolverines and Spartans give the Big Ten two of the top three spots, while North Dakota brings its heavyweight pedigree to No. 2. But the Broncos at No. 4? That's the headline within the headline. Western Michigan sitting alongside three of the sport's most decorated programs is a statement — respect earned, not inherited.
Every team here arrived from outside the poll, which means every team here has something to prove and nothing to lose. The race starts now.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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