Despite laying claim to the reigning national champion and coming off a winning bowl season that included a 3-2 mark against college football's most prominent conference, the Big Ten had little to brag about in comparison to the SEC when the preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released 12 months ago.
What a difference a year makes.
While the SEC can once again call itself the home of college football's national champion, the Big Ten suddenly finds itself on nearly equal ground with its neighbors to the South following Thursday's release of this year's preseason coaches poll.