Michigan football ranks 9th in preseason Amway Coaches Poll

The pecking order is set entering the 2017 college football season.

Michigan football enters coach Jim Harbaugh's third year ranked No. 9 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, released by USA TODAY Sports.

• Read the full preseason Amway Coaches' Poll

Alabama, which lost the College Football Playoff Championship to Clemson, is No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Florida State, USC and Clemson.

Michigan State, coming off a disappointing 3-9 season, is unranked but did earn one vote. Other Big Ten teams in the Top 25 include Penn State at No. 6 and Wisconsin at No. 10.

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The Wolverines finished 10-3 in consecutive seasons to start the Jim Harbaugh era and ended last season ranked No. 10 in the Amway Coaches' Poll. They lost three of their final four games, including the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

This season begins with a major challenge: Against No. 16 Florida in the Cowboys Classic in Arlington, Texas. Furthermore, U-M returns just five starts from last year's team, including four on offense. 

Four of Michigan's 2017 opponents are ranked: Florida (16), Penn State (6), Wisconsin (10) and Ohio State (2).

Western Michigan earned 8 votes.

Preseason Amway Coaches' Poll

1. Alabama (49 first-place votes)

2. Ohio State (5)

3. Florida State (4)

4. USC

5. Clemson (7)

6. Penn State

7. Washington

8. Oklahoma

9. Michigan

10. Wisconsin

11. Oklahoma State

12. LSU

13. Auburn

14. Stanford

15. Georgia

16. Florida

17. Louisville

18. Miami (Fla.)

19. Kansas State

20. West Virginia

21. South Florida

22. Virginia Tech

23. Texas

24. Tennessee

25. Utah

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