Michigan football moves up to No. 16 in USA Today poll, No. 17 in AP poll
The Michigan football team moved up in both major polls after its 45-17 win over Nebraska.
The Wolverines are No. 16 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 17 in The Associated Press poll. They were No. 18 and No. 20, respectively, last week.
Losses by Oklahoma State, Oregon and Oklahoma shook up the top five of both polls.
Southeastern Conference teams LSU, Alabama and Arkansas are 1-2-3 in both polls.
According to the Associated Press, the only other time one conference had the top three teams in the 75-year history of its poll was the final rankings of 1971 when Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado were 1-2-3.
Michigan State, which clinched the Legends Division title and a spot in the Big Ten’s first championship game with a win over Indiana, is the conference’s highest-rated team at No. 10 in the USA Today poll and No. 11 in the AP poll.
Wisconsin and Penn State - who’ll meet next week to determine the Leaders Division’s representative in the title game - are also in the top 20 of both polls. Wisconsin is No. 12/15 and Penn State 19/20.
Nebraska fell to No. 22 in both polls.
Stanford is No. 4 and Oklahoma State No. 5 in the AP poll. Virginia Tech is No. 4 and Stanford No. 5 in the USA Today poll.
Comments
David Vande Bunte
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.
I am going to be consistent to what I said earlier in the year. The only poll that matters is the one after the season. I don't care if Michigan is ranked #16 or #17. That little number by their name isn't going to help them beat TSIO this week. Outplaying them is. Dominating them at the line of scrimmage will. Denard Robinson being Denard Robinson will. That little number? Not so much. That doesn't mean I don't think that Michigan deserves to be ranked or anything like that...far from. I am proud of the way this team has played all year. But, it's Ohio State week. What Michigan is ranked before the game is completely irrelevant to THE GAME. After we beat the Buckeyes black and blue and send them home crying to their mommas, then we can talk about where Michigan is ranked.
a2justsayin
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
It's a long climb back to the top...but we're getting there. Go Blue!
MRunner73
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 10:55 p.m.
A little surprising Michigan moved up only 1 or 2 spots. Given all of the love they have gotten all season in the polls. That also goes for Sparty at 10/11. On a positive note, it feels good to be ranked after 11 games. This is still a transition year and this team is transitioning before our eyes the past couple of games in terms of improving. GO BLUE!!!
heartbreakM
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
All year long, I've decried the rankings of the Big Ten as non-deserving and unmerited. Though I can still question the schedules of ALL the B10 teams outside of conference (none of that has changed), given what has happened in the entire college football world with "upsets" and upstarts like NC State over Clemson and Iowa State over OK State (and Iowa), perhaps the B10 now gets more merit into the top 20. Still don't believe any of the B10 teams is one of the 10 best in the country, and still don't think the bowls will bail them out, but at this point, I think UM about 15-16 is right, MSU about 10-12 is right, Wisconsin in the 12-15 range is right. Beyond that? PSu may deserve ranking--they have consistent defense all year long (but who are the offenses??) Go blue.
DonAZ
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 7:13 p.m.
Earlier in the season I would have shrugged my shoulders at the ranking, but as we're now 11 games into a 12 game regular season we have a bit of a track record to look back on. Given the totality of the college football landscape I think an 16/17 is about right. That's particularly true IF Michigan has stabilized with respect to consistency ... meaning, if what we saw on Saturday is what Michigan can now bring any given Saturday. After Saturday's game I am becoming more confident in their consistency. Defensive for sure ... offensive more and more so as they seem to be settling on a better understanding of what works and what doesn't. (And that's MORE than just "Run, Denard, run!).