USA TODAY Sports ranks Michigan in Big Ten list

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Death, taxes, and Ohio State considered the preseason favorite in the Big Ten. These are commonplace every single year, even though the Buckeyes haven't actually won the conference since 2020.

USA TODAY Sports just revealed its Big Ten power rankings with the season fast approaching and Big Ten media days set to kick off in just over two weeks. And of course, OSU topped the list. But where does Michigan football rank?

Behind Ohio State is defending national champion Indiana at No. 2, and a loaded Oregon at No. 3. But the revamped Michigan Wolverines come in ranked No. 4, with Kyle Whittingham potentially set to completely overhaul the maize and blue in all phases.

Here is what Paul Myerberg had to say about the maize and blue:

4. Michigan

Even during a tumultuous two-year run under former coach Sherrone Moore, the 2023 national champs went a combined 17-9 and beat rival Ohio State once. After a downturn under Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, Michigan has won at least eight games in every non-COVID season since Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2015. How the adjustment goes with Kyle Whittingham will be one to watch.

Behind Michigan is No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Iowa, No. 7 USC, No. 8 Washington, and the field. Given that Penn State is currently a hybrid between the James Franklin Nittany Lions and Iowa State, Iowa is the most inexperienced team in the conference, and USC looks like it could challenge for the top of the Big Ten, the list does feel a little muddled. Even so, Michigan at No. 4 does feel like it's an appropriate rank, even if the Wolverines could be somewhere between third and sixth, depending on how games go against Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State, and Iowa go this year.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: USA TODAY Sports ranks Michigan in Big Ten list

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