close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • How far will the Wolverines fall after the loss to Texas?
    news

    How far will the Wolverines fall after the loss to Texas?

    Vaseline Posted on

    Here’s a look at how far Michigan could fall in the top 25 rankings after Saturday’s 31-12 loss to Texas

    This weekend, the players, coaches and fans of the Michigan American football team were confronted with an unfamiliar feeling: the pain of loss.

    The No. 9 Wolverines’ 31-12 loss to No. 3 Texas on Saturday at Michigan Stadium was their first defeat of any kind since December 2022, when they fell to TCU in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. It was also Michigan’s first regular-season loss since October 2021 and its first home defeat since November 2020.

    Losing to the Longhorns, one of the most talented teams in the country, is understandable, even in the Big House. The way it unfolded, however, was more troubling for coach Sherrone Moore’s team.

    REQUIRED READING: How Michigan Football Shot Itself in the Foot Too Many Times in a Blowout Loss to Texas

    The Wolverines never led and saw the game quickly turn around in the second quarter, when they were outscored 17-3 en route to a 24-3 halftime lead. At that point, a high-profile, nationally televised game between two top 10 teams was a loss.

    The setback will undoubtedly have consequences for Michigan’s hopes of reaching its fourth consecutive College Football Playoff, though the fallout from the loss will be somewhat muted because it came outside of Big Ten play. But what does it mean for Michigan’s standing in the two major national polls, which will be released Sunday?

    Below is a look at where the Wolverines are likely to finish in the final US LBM Coaches Poll and AP top 25 rankings for Week 3:

    REQUIRED READING: Michigan Football Numbers vs. Texas: Brutal Performance on Offense and Defense

    Michigan Football Rankings: Where Will the Wolverines Place in the Top 25?

    While the end of a 16-game winning streak may be disappointing to those emotionally invested in Michigan football, it is far from an unforgivable mistake.

    Even on an away game in college football’s biggest stadium, Texas entered the game against the Wolverines as a touchdown favorite.

    How far Michigan falls in the polls may have more to do with how the teams behind it perform. Here’s a look at how the rest of the top 25 performed in Week 3:

    1. Georgia: 48-3 win against Tennessee Tech
    2. State of Ohio: vs. West Michigan
    3. Texas: 31-12 win over No. 9 Michigan
    4. Alabama: vs. South Florida
    5. Old lady: 52-3 win against Middle Tennessee
    6. Oregon: vs Boise State
    7. Notre Dame: 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois
    8. Penn State: 34-27 victory against Bowling Green
    9. Michigan: 31-12 loss to No. 3 Texas
    10. Missouri: against Buffalo
    11. Utah: 23-12 victory against Baylor
    12. Tennessee: vs. No. 23 NC State
    13. Oklahoma: against Houston
    14. USC: vs Utah State
    15. Miami: vs. Florida A&M
    16. Kansas State: 34-27 victory at Tulane
    17. State of Oklahoma: 39-31 win against Arkansas (2OT)
    18. Arizona: vs Northern Arizona
    19. LSU:to Nicholls
    20. Kansas: at Illinois
    21. Iowa: 20-19 loss to Iowa State
    22. Clemson: vs Appalachian State
    23. NC stands: vs. No. 12 Tennessee
    24. Louisville: 49-14 victory against Jacksonville State
    25. Washington: 30-9 win against Eastern Michigan

    Entering Saturday’s evening slate, only one team trailing the Wolverines had lost. That team, No. 21 Iowa, was so far behind them that it likely will provide little to no relief.

    What could hurt Moore’s team in the eyes and evaluations of voters isn’t just that it just lost, but how disappointing it looks two games into the 2024 season. Even in the 30-10 win over Fresno State in Week 1, Michigan led by just six points with six minutes left and outscored the Bulldogs by just a 269-247 margin.

    The Wolverines’ offense is particularly poor at this early point in the season. While plagued by questions about the quarterback, Michigan has failed to muster more than 300 yards against either Fresno State or Texas, raising legitimate concerns about how many points it can reliably put on the board this season, even against some of the schedule’s ostensibly weaker opponents.

    Given that work and all the turnover Michigan has experienced since winning the national championship last season, it’s likely they won’t get much benefit of the doubt. With so few teams trailing them in the polls that are losing, the Wolverines could fall significantly.

    Predicting the final ranking: No. 17

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like