The first AP Top 25 poll of the upcoming 2016 season has been released and Northwestern — which was No. 23 in the final poll of 2015 — is not included.
Just four Big Ten teams -- Ohio State (No. 6), Michigan (No. 7), Michigan State (No. 12) and Iowa (No. 17) -- are ranked. At the conclusion of last year’s bowl season, six of the conference’s 12 teams were in the AP Top 25, including Northwestern. Defending national champion Alabama tops the poll.
Northwestern did receive five AP votes, though, while Wisconsin (42) and Nebraska (11) were the other Big Ten teams in the poll's "others receiving votes.