Last season's shared Big Ten title and 11-2 record earned Michigan State a little more notoriety and national respect. Yet, the thumping MSU took at the hands of Alabama in the Capitol One Bowl may have prevented the Spartans from getting an overly lofting preseason ranking. In the latest USA Today coaches preseason poll released Thursday, the Spartans are ranked No. 17 in the country. The two teams they tied atop the Big Ten with, Wisconsin (No. 10) and Ohio State (No. 16) are both ranked higher.

Oklahoma was the runaway favorite at No. 1 with 42 of 59 first-place votes. Penn State came in ranked No. 25. Michigan received Top 25 votes, but finished unranked. Notre Dame received it's annual Top 25 ranking, this time coming in at No. 18.

The Spartans open the season Friday, Sept. 2 with a night game against Youngstown State. Michigan opens Sept. 3 against Western Michigan.

-- Ross Maghielse

Here's the entire USA Today Top 25 poll:

1. Oklahoma (12-2)

2. Alabama (10-3)

3. Oregon (12-1)

4. LSU (11-2)

5. Florida State (10-4)

6. Stanford (12-1)

7. Boise State (12-1)

8. Oklahoma State (11-2)

9. Texas A&M (9-4)

10. Wisconsin (11-2)

11. Nebraska (10-4)

12. South Carolina (9-5)

13. Virginia Tech (11-3)

14. Arkansas (10-3)

15. TCU (13-0)

16. Ohio State (12-1)

17. Michigan State (11-2)

18. Notre Dame (8-5)

19. Auburn (14-0)

20. Mississippi State (9-4)

21. Missouri (10-3)

22. Georgia (6-7)

23. Florida (8-5)

24. Texas (5-7)

25. Penn State (7-6)