No. 17 it is for IU football in the preseason polls.
The first Associated Press poll of the 2021 season followed the coaches poll and ESPN power rankings, slotting Indiana in at No. 17 on Monday.
Joining IU from the Big Ten are Ohio State (No. 4), Wisconsin (No. 12), Iowa (No. 18) and Penn State (No. 19). Michigan and Northwestern also received votes.
Head coach Tom Allen was asked about the poll soon after its release.
“I didn’t know that. It’s a preseason poll,” Allen said. “September 4th is coming, and we’ve got a lot of work to do. It says something about the perception of our program by others.”
In addition to Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State, Indiana will face No. 8 Cincinnati in 2021. Concerns about the Hoosiers’ challenging schedule along with the ability of quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. to complete a season healthy likely contribute to any degree of skepticism going into the season.
Indiana moved as high as No. 7 in the AP poll in December, marking its highest spot since the 1967 season.
No. 17 is the highest IU has been ranked in the preseason AP poll since 1969.
The Hoosiers open the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at Iowa.
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