Despite the absence of a meaningful snap of college football this season, the rankings come trickling in.
USA Today released the preseason Amway Coaches Poll Thursday, and the Spartans start 2017 on the outside looking in — unranked.
MSU football begins season unranked in Amway Coaches Poll
Freshman defensive end Jacub Panasiuk (96), left, and freshman linebacker Brent Mossburg (42), right, perform a drill during the football practice on July 31, 2017, at the practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building
After going 3-9 in 2016 and a trying off-season, MSU attempts to turn a new leaf with camp beginning Monday.
In the poll, four Big Ten teams are ranked and all are within the top 10. MSU's in-state rival, the University of Michigan, sits at No. 9 heading into Jim Harbaugh's third season. Ohio State, the Big Ten's representative in the College Football Playoff last season, opens the season as the No. 2 program in the country.
Penn State, the 2016 Big Ten champion, is ranked No. 6. Lastly, the Nittany Lion's foe in the Big Ten championship game last season, Wisconsin, is the No. 10 team in the country.
The Spartans, however, did receive a vote from the 65 member Board of Coaches, amassing one point. Other Big Ten schools receiving votes are Northwestern, Minnesota, Maryland, Nebraska and Iowa.
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