Members of the Ohio State football team take part in "Carmen Ohio" after shutting out Hawaii 38-0 on Sept. 12. Credit: Lantern File Photo

Members of the Ohio State football team take part in “Carmen Ohio” after shutting out Hawaii 38-0 on Sept. 12. Credit: Lantern File Photo

After finishing 2015 in fourth place in the final AP poll, OSU finds themselves in fifth in the initial coaches poll for 2016. 64 college football coaches, all members of the American Football Coaches Association, hand pick the list.

OSU is the highest ranking Big Ten team, followed by Michigan at No. 8. In all, four teams from the conference are ranked, with Iowa at No. 15, and Michigan State ranked at 11.

Michigan State is the lowest ranked team in the top 25 that OSU will play in 2016, with the Spartans finding themselves just outside the top 10. Only three Big Ten teams scheduled to square off with the Scarlet and Gray did not receive votes. Those teams are Penn State, Maryland and Rutgers.

Of the 12 opponents the Buckeyes will face, seven received votes to be placed within the top 25. The highest ranking opponent, Oklahoma, is ranked third.

After being dubbed the greatest collegiate football program of all time by the Associated Press on Tuesday, the Ohio State football team will look to own up to the recognition with a stellar season. However, after the release of the first coaches poll for the season on Thursday, it appears the road to a national championship for the Buckeyes will not be an easy one.

The initial AP poll for 2016 is set to be released on Aug. 21.