Final polls disagree on whether Michigan is top-10 football team, better than Michigan State

Michigan fans cheer at the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

So, was Michigan a top-10 football team this year?

This is college football. So, naturally, pollsters disagree, even after 13 games. The Wolverines finished No. 9 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 12 in the Associated Press poll.

They went 11-2 and captured a Sugar Bowl title, but they also played a relatively soft schedule and eight home games, which likely held them back.

Interestingly, the Wolverines finished one spot ahead of rival Michigan State in the coaches poll. They lost to the Spartans 28-14 this year.

The two also finished consecutively in the AP poll, but were transposed, with Michigan State one spot ahead of the Wolverines at No. 11.

This is Michigan's best finish in either poll since the 2006 season, when it fell to No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 9 in the coaches poll after a Rose Bowl loss. It had an identical 11-2 record that year.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.