UW opens at No. 4 in AP preseason top 25 poll

MADISON – Wisconsin will open the season ranked in the top five for just the second time in the history of The Associated Press college football poll.

UW is ranked No. 4 in the 2018 preseason poll released Monday.

The Badgers also were ranked No. 4 in the 2000 AP preseason poll.

Four other Big Ten teams made the AP top 25 on Monday.

Ohio State was No. 5, Penn State was No. 10, Michigan State was No. 11 and Michigan was No. 14.

UW faces Michigan on Oct. 13 in Ann Arbor and Penn State on Nov. 10 in State College.

Monday marked the 10th time UW opened in the top 10 of the AP poll.

UW opened at No. 7 in 1952, at No. 9 in 1954, at No. 6 in 1959, at No. 7 in 1963, at No. 10 in 1994, at No. 10 in 1999, at No. 4 in 2000, at No. 7 in 2007 and at No. 9 last season.

The Badgers were ranked No. 7 in the Amway coaches poll earlier this month.

Alabama, Clemson and Georgia were No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the AP top 25.

UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook on Monday used one word – twice – to answer two questions about UW's lofty ranking.

Asked if he knew UW opened at No. 4, Hornibrook said: "No."

Asked if he cared that UW opened at No 4, Hornibrook said: "No."