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

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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.”

Michigan holds on to beat Army in two overtimes. Photo Courtesy of mgoblue.com

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?

MSU’s victory gave Head Coach Mark Dantonio his 109th win at the school, tying him with legendary Spartan coach Duffy Daugherty. / Photo Courtesy of msuspartans.com

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

Syracuse

2

Alabama (6) 2-0

1489

South Carolina

3

Georgia 2-0

1385 vs 

Arkansas St.

4

LSU 2-0

 2 1336 vs 

Northwestern St.

5

Oklahoma 2-0

 1 1315

UCLA

6

Ohio St. 2-0

 1 1291

Indiana

7

Notre Dame 1-0

 1 1072 vs 

New Mexico

8

Auburn 2-0

 2 1056 vs 

Kent St.

9

Florida 2-0

 2 997

Kentucky

10

Michigan 2-0

 3 936

Wisconsin

11

Utah 2-0

 2 905 vs 

Idaho State

12

Texas 1-1

 3 877 vs 

Rice

13

Penn St. 2-0

 2 781 vs 

Pittsburgh

14

Wisconsin 2-0

 3 714 vs 

Michigan

15

Oregon 1-1

 1 677 vs 

Montana

16

Texas A&M 1-1

 4 643 vs 

Lamar

17

UCF 2-0

 1 544 vs 

Stanford

18

Michigan St. 2-0

 1 495 vs 

Arizona St.

19

Iowa 2-0

 1 473

Iowa St.

20

Washington St. 2-0

 2 343 vs 

Houston

21

Maryland 2-0

207

Temple

22

Boise St. 2-0

 2 164 vs 

Portland St.

23

Washington 1-1

 9 161 vs 

Hawaii

24

USC 2-0

 14 137

BYU

25

Virginia 2-0

 2 122 vs 

Florida St.

 

Courtesy of CBS Sports