Michigan and Michigan State Move in This Week’s AP Top 25

September 9, 2019

This week’s AP College Football Top 25 Poll featured several teams moving up and down the rankings including Michigan and Michigan State. The Top 5 welcomed a new team as LSU jumped into 4th after defeating the Texas Longhorns. Clemson, Alabama, and Georgia remain the Top 3, with Oklahoma in 5th.

Michigan

Michigan entered the weekend 7th, unchanged from their prior ranking, despite a lackluster effort in their 40-21 win over Middle Tennessee State. This weeks opponent, Army, rolled into Ann Arbor and almost stole a win at the “Big House.”

The game went to overtime, but not before Black Knights kicker Cole Talley missed a 50-yard field goal short and to the right to leave the score 14-14 at the end of regulation. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime. Michigan kicker Jake Moody nailed a 43-yard field goal to start overtime number two and the Wolverine defense forced an Army fumble, recovering it to end the contest 24-21.

The voters penalized Michigan dropping them to 10th after their 2nd week of sub-par performances. Coach Jim Harbough will have plenty of time to try and work out the kinks as the Wolverines are off next week. Michigan will need to up their game as they travel to face 14th ranked Wisconsin in a key Big 10 matchup.

Michigan State

The Spartans 28-7 win over Tulas last week was a defensive gem, it was the offense that was ugly. The only thing ugly about this weeks 51-17 trouncing of Western Michigan was Michigan State’s alternative uniform. Who thought lime green pants were a good look for the gridiron?

Coach Mark Dantonio promised an improved offensive effort and State delivered, despite the garish duds. Quarterback Brian Lewerke was 23 of 32, throwing for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dantonio tied Duffy Daugherty with 109 victories at the school and State moved up one spot to 18th with the win.

Michigan State will be tested next week as the level of competition steps up. The Spartans face Arizona State at Spartan Stadium.

The Big 10

Big 10 schools hold seven spots in the AP Top 25. In addition to Michigan and Michigan State, conference foes Ohio State(6th), Penn State(13th), Wisconsin(14th), Iowa(19th) and Maryland(21st) are ranked.

The Rankings Headed into Week 3

1	Clemson (56) 2-0	—	1544		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:30 pm	@  Syracuse
2	Alabama (6) 2-0	—	1489		Sat, Sep 14 @ 3:30 pm	@  South Carolina
3	Georgia 2-0	—	1385		Sat, Sep 14 @ 12:00 pm	vs  Arkansas St.
4	LSU 2-0	2	1336		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:30 pm	vs  Northwestern St.
5	Oklahoma 2-0	1	1315		Sat, Sep 14 @ 8:00 pm	@  UCLA
6	Ohio St. 2-0	1	1291		Sat, Sep 14 @ 12:00 pm	@  Indiana
7	Notre Dame 1-0	1	1072		Sat, Sep 14 @ 2:30 pm	vs  New Mexico
8	Auburn 2-0	2	1056		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:00 pm	vs  Kent St.
9	Florida 2-0	2	997		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:00 pm	@  Kentucky
10	Michigan 2-0	3	936		Sat, Sep 21 @ 12:00 pm	@  Wisconsin
11	Utah 2-0	2	905		Sat, Sep 14 @ 4:15 pm	vs  Idaho State
12	Texas 1-1	3	877		Sat, Sep 14 @ 8:00 pm	vs  Rice
13	Penn St. 2-0	2	781		Sat, Sep 14 @ 12:00 pm	vs  Pittsburgh
14	Wisconsin 2-0	3	714		Sat, Sep 21 @ 12:00 pm	vs  Michigan
15	Oregon 1-1	1	677		Sat, Sep 14 @ 10:45 pm	vs  Montana
16	Texas A&M 1-1	4	643		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:00 pm	vs  Lamar
17	UCF 2-0	1	544		Sat, Sep 14 @ 3:30 pm	vs  Stanford
18	Michigan St. 2-0	1	495		Sat, Sep 14 @ 4:00 pm	vs  Arizona St.
19	Iowa 2-0	1	473		Sat, Sep 14 @ 4:00 pm	@  Iowa St.
20	Washington St. 2-0	2	343		Fri, Sep 13 @ 9:15 pm	vs  Houston
21	Maryland 2-0	—	207		Sat, Sep 14 @ 12:00 pm	@  Temple
22	Boise St. 2-0	2	164		Sat, Sep 14 @ 10:15 pm	vs  Portland St.
23	Washington 1-1	9	161		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:30 pm	vs  Hawaii
24	USC 2-0	14	137		Sat, Sep 14 @ 3:30 pm	@  BYU
25	Virginia 2-0	2	122		Sat, Sep 14 @ 7:30 pm	vs  Florida St.

Courtesy of CBS Sports