Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Ranked No. 18 in Associated Press Preseason Poll

This year's preseason AP Top 25 poll was officially released earlier this morning, featuring the Oklahoma Sooners as the No. 1 overall team.

Following is No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Louisiana State and No. 5 Boise State, leaving the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 18.

Ohio State has had its fair share of controversy throughout the offseason. Four players were declared ineligible for accepting improper benefits, and are suspended for the first five games.

Head coach Jim Tressel resigned in late May, giving Luke Fickell full-time duties. Star quarterback Terrelle Pryor retreated amongst the clutter in hopes of fulfilling his NFL dreams, and is currently awaiting the supplementary draft.

And the NCAA is still investigating Ohio State's football program.

"I'll take the shot in any way I possibly can," Fickell said, according to The Buckeye Times. "We all know here at Ohio State that all eyes are on you, each and every year. That doesn't worry me one bit. We stress to our kids that they have faith and confidence in who we are and where we are headed, and that they understand that we have a plan for the future."

Starting off at No. 18 is unfamiliar territory for the Bucks, who have been ranked inside the preseason Top 10 seven times during the past 10 seasons. The lowest Ohio State has been ranked to start a season throughout this span was No. 13 in 2002— the year OSU finished undefeated with a national championship under its belt.

Although it may not be the best position to start 2011, Ohio State's placement in the polls has not hurt the team's morale.

In fact, it's done anything but that.

Said center Mike Brewster via Twitter: "We made Us [USA Today Poll]...chasing perfection."

It may not be the most glorious preseason ranking, but it might serve as good medicine for the Buckeyes. OSU won't have the target it usually has on its back (one not as big, at least), giving it the opportunity to become a sleeper in the Big Ten's Leaders division.

Ohio State kicks off its campaign in the Horseshoe on September 3 against Akron.