(Photo: Rod Sanford, Detroit News)
Michigan is ranked No. 7 in the preseason coaches poll, released Thursday, with Michigan State checking in at No. 20.
The Wolverines are coming off a 10-3 season — their third in four seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh — and are a popular pick to at least make a run at the College Football Playoffs behind a revamped offense led by quarterback Shea Patterson and what's expected to again be a rock-solid defense.
Michigan State, meanwhile, is coming off a tough 7-6 season in which an injury-plagued offense was unable to support one of the nation's top defenses.