Michigan’s climb in the AP Poll kept moving, just not by much.
After a 52-17 win over UTEP and a 3-0 start for the first time since 2023, the Wolverines rose one spot to No. 18 in the latest AP rankings. They had already re-entered the poll at No. 19 after last week’s upset of Oklahoma, and this week’s bump reflects another solid step forward.
Saturday’s win over the Miners was Michigan’s most complete performance of the season. The Wolverines were nearly spotless for most of the afternoon, with the only real blemishes coming on two costly fumbles that were converted into scores. Bryce Underwood settled in and ran the offense with control, while Savion Hiter announced himself in a bigger way with two touchdowns.
The move to No. 18 feels modest, but it fits the way AP voters have treated Michigan so far. Beating a G6 opponent usually doesn’t create a big splash, and the Wolverines are still working through early-season poll inertia.
A win over No. 17 Iowa next week would likely give them a much stronger push.
At the top of the poll, Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame remain locked into the first three spots. Ole Miss made the biggest jump near the top, vaulting into No. 4 after a highly publicized revenge win over Lane Kiffin and No.
10 LSU. Elsewhere in the rankings, No.
4 Indiana, No. 7 Ohio State, No.
12 USC, No. 13 Penn State and No.
20 Oregon represent the Big Ten and other conference presence in the poll.
The full AP Poll lists Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Indiana, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Alabama, BYU, LSU, Texas Tech, USC, Penn State, Tennessee, Utah, Louisville, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Florida, SMU, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Houston.
In Other News...
Michigan Finally Found Some Offense But A Bigger Worry Is Growing
Michigans 52-17 win over UTEP brought a much cleaner afternoon on offense, with Bryce Underwood looking more comfortable as a passer and the Wolverines finally stringing together the kind of production they had been searching for. True freshman Tommy Carr also got his first career touchdown pass, another small but notable development in a game that gave Michigan a chance to reset some of its offensive rhythm.
The bigger concern is what came out of the win, because the injury list is starting to grow in places Michigan can ill afford to thin out. Right tackle Andrew Sprague, running back Jordan Marshall and cornerback Zeke Berry all missed or were limited in the game, leaving the Wolverines to balance a much-needed offensive breakthrough against some troubling uncertainty as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Big Win Couldn't Hide One Worry Before Iowa
Michigan shook off an uneven start and rolled past UTEP 52-17, turning an early deficit into a runaway win with 38 straight points. Bryce Underwood threw two touchdown passes and Savion Hiter added two rushing scores as the Wolverines settled in on offense, but the victory was built only after they recovered from self-inflicted mistakes that handed UTEP an opening.
Jordan Marshalls leg injury was the part of the afternoon Michigan could not simply brush aside. The starting running back went out during the game, leaving the Wolverines with a question mark in the backfield heading into Iowa, while coach Kyle Whittingham also pointed to the teams fumble issues as another concern to clean up before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Finebaum Turns Oklahomas Michigan Loss Into Fresh SEC Fuel
Paul Finebaum used his SEC Nation platform to revisit Oklahomas loss to Michigan, and he did not sound like someone eager to give the Big Ten any benefit of the doubt. The longtime SEC voice said he was frustrated by what he sees as a down year for the conference, and he pointed back to the praise he had offered before the season as something he now wishes he could take back.
Finebaum also put Oklahomas defeat in a broader rivalry context, saying the loss let fans down and handed fresh ammunition to those who still view the SEC as the tougher league. With the conference debate never far from the surface, Michigans win has quickly become more than just one result on the schedule, turning into the latest talking point in the ongoing SEC-Big Ten argument. [Read more 🡒]