Aug. 3, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern, which was dubbed the preseason Big Ten favorite by the media on Aug. 1, earned a No. 20 ranking in today's ESPN/USA Today Coaches' preseason poll.
This is the Wildcats' first appearance in the coaches' preseason poll since earning a No. 19 preseason ranking in 1996, the year after NU reached the Rose Bowl.
Although NU earned the title of Big Ten favorite earlier this week, the coaches on the ranking committee voted Michigan ahead of the Wildcats at No. 10. Other Big Ten teams in the top 25 include Ohio State at No. 21 and Wisconsin at No. 23. Purdue (No. 26), Penn State (No. 36), Michigan State (No. 44), Minnesota (No. 45) and Illinois (No. 46) also received votes. Only Iowa and Indiana failed to receive mention in the preseason poll.
"I think that's a good indication of how balanced our league is once again," said Northwestern coach Randy Walker. "I've said it more than once, but tell me who can't win the Big Ten this year?"
Florida topped the coaches' poll, followed by Miami (Fla.), defending national champion Oklahoma, Nebraska and Florida State.