AP voters deliver harsh verdict on Wolverines after Western Michigan escape

Michigan football faced a challenging game against Western Michigan on Saturday night, failing to score a touchdown after their opening drive and not reaching the end zone again in regulation. The Wolverines handed the ball off three times and entered the final minutes behind by 12 points, trailing the favorite Western Michigan 12-7 with a 27.5-point spread.

In a desperate attempt, the Wolverines resorted to two Hail Mary passes to escape the game. The Associated Press voters released their evaluations on Tuesday, marking Michigan's drop from No. 16 in the preseason poll to unranked in the first regular-season Top 25. This resulted in Michigan receiving 69 points in the others-receiving-votes column, which placed the Wolverines at 28th.

This was the most significant drop to unranked status for any team following a win since at least 2008. Michigan began the season at No. 16 without a single first-place vote. Their debut included one touchdown, three turnovers, and a 13-12 victory that was only possible due to officials reinstating one second on the clock, allowing Bryce Underwood to find JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard gain on the following play. Following this controversial win, Michigan has been removed from the AP Top 25.