The first Associated Press Top-25 preseason football poll was released Monday, and IU is scheduled to face four teams this season that made the rankings.
The poll confirms Ohio State will be the No. 2 ranked team in the country when the Buckeyes come to Bloomington for the season opener Aug. 31. IU Coach Tom Allen has referred to the game as the biggest season-opener in IU football history, and the game has attracted a national audience that includes the ESPN program "College GameDay."
Ohio State also received three first-place votes in the poll. Alabama was selected as the preseason No. 1-ranked team with 52 first-place votes.
Penn State (6), Wisconsin (9) and Michigan (11) are all also on the 2017 football schedule for IU.
IU will face Penn State on Sept. 30 in University Park, Pennsylvania, before IU enters its bye week.
The Hoosiers return from their bye week to play Michigan in Bloomington for the homecoming game Oct. 14 before embarking on a two-game road trip. Then, on Nov. 4, IU welcomes Wisconsin for the penultimate home game of the season.
Only one other 2017 opponent for IU received votes to be included in the preseason poll, with Michigan State receiving just one vote. IU will visit the Spartans on Oct. 21.
Cameron Drummond
