AP Top 25 preseason poll: 5 knee-jerk reactions

1. Wisconsin over Ohio State, oh my!

There is probably nothing from the AP Top 25 preseason poll that is going to rile people up quite as much as the Wisconsin Badgers coming in one spot ahead of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Even with all of the drama currently surrounding the Ohio State program, it’s safe to say that next-to-no-one expected the Buckeyes to be playing second-fiddle to the Badgers in terms of the rankings. Yet, here we are. And it’s completely justifiable.

Even if you throw away all of the potential and likely off-field distractions going on in Columbus, there is undoubtedly a case to be made that Wisconsin is the better team. Yes, Ohio State may have the star-power of guys like J.K. Dobbins and, of course, the great Nick Bosa. But when you compare the two rosters, Wisconsin is clearly the more complete team between the two. On both sides of the ball, they are primed to compete with anyone.

The question for Wisconsin this season is whether or not they can reach a new level — namely one where they can contend for a national title — with Alex Hornibrook as their quarterback. That’s a warranted question as the signal-caller is clearly the biggest weakness of the Badgers roster right now. However, Ohio State faces the unknown at quarterback as well this season, even if Dwayne Haskins is getting preseason buzz. And there are more holes elsewhere on the roster for OSU than with Wisconsin.

Seeing the poll actually put the Badgers ahead of the Buckeyes is shocking, to be sure. But once again, they actually got it right. Wisconsin is the team to beat in the Big Ten this season. Having said that, the AP Top 25 preseason poll just painted an even bigger target on the back of the Badgers by recognizing that.