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Snap Reactions to Sports Illustrated NCAAF Top 25

By Noah Seligman

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Sports Illustrated unveiled its inaugural Top 25 ranking list for the college football season

A mere five days ago the USA Today Coaches Poll dropped.  On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated chipped in its own Top 25 rankings.

Wisconsin Football is ranked #12 in the Sports Illustrated ranking.   Wisconsin is again one spot behind Michigan in the Sports Illustrated list.

We don’t have the full cross tabs or points in the Sports Illustrated poll.  The article itself indicates that Sports Illustrated “writers and editors” created the ranking.

Related Story: USA Today Coaches Poll and Badger Football

Each team’s ranking includes a blurb about the “path to the playoff” referencing the College Football Playoff.  For Wisconsin, that means winning the Big Ten West even with a loss along the way.

"Wisconsin has the personnel—especially on D—to win the Big Ten West. A season-ending trip to Minnesota (Nov. 25) will be a challenge, as will a trip to Nebraska (Oct. 7). Even if the Badgers lose to Michigan (Nov. 18) in a crossover showdown, a win in the Big Ten title tilt could catapult them into the playoff."

The hardest crossover game against Michigan is in Madison.  Of course, by mid-November the new faces on Michigan should have gelled a bit.   The Badgers avoid The Ohio State and Penn State widely considered to be the toughest of the Big Ten East.

The Buckeyes ranked #3 in the poll and have a chance for a valuable non-conference win with a game against Oklahoma headlining the second weekend of college football.

Thus far the College Football Playoff has been content to pull teams from the power conferences (Big Ten, SEC, Pac 12, SEC, ACC).  So The Ohio State beating the Sooners could be an important tie-breaker of sorts if the committee is comparing Oklahoma and The Ohio State for a playoff spot.

Related Story: Badger Football Opponents in USA Today Coaches Poll

Oklahoma was ranked #6 and Oklahoma St was actually #4 which seems high.  The Cowboys went 10-3 last season winning the Alamo Bowl.  Oklahoma State was #11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.  For teams included in both rankings, the Cowboys seven spot difference between the two is the largest gap.  Wisconsin was just two spots lower in the Sports Illustrated ranking compared to the USA Today Coaches Poll.

The other ranked Big Ten teams are defending conference champion Penn State at #8 and Michigan at #11.  No other Big Ten teams were included in the Sports Illustrated Top 25.