Michigan won the game on a Hail Mary and got dropped out of the AP Top 25 anyway. Why?
Michigan won the game against Western Michigan but lost most of its support in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll. Just like many viewers Saturday night, Top 25…
In a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Michigan secured a hard-fought victory against Western Michigan, but the outcome of the game had a peculiar aftermath. The AP Top 25 college football poll, an influential ranking system, demonstrated that even a triumphant win could not guarantee a position in the top echelons of college football.
The confusion surrounding the final moments of the game was palpable, with the clock being put back on after what seemed like the completion of the match. This left both fans and poll voters perplexed. However, the turning point arrived when wide receiver JJ Buchanan leaped into the end zone, securing Bryce Underwood’s second Hail Mary pass, leading to a 13-12 loss for Michigan.
Facing the aftermath, Michigan's fate in the poll was sealed. The Mid-American Conference, representing Michigan, made formal appeals to the NCAA and the College Football Playoff administration, requesting the result to be overturned to ensure the Broncos were officially recognized as the winners for rankings and other purposes. However, the NCAA firmly stated that its rules did not permit such a reversal, and the College Football Playoff administration had not yet released its rankings.
The impact of these events on Michigan's standing was immediate and stark. The Wolverines, once a preseason favorite and ranking as high as No. 10, plummeted from No. 16 in the preseason poll to being completely unranked in the first regular-season poll. This was the largest downfall from the ranked to unranked category following a victory since at least 2008.
Former voter Bob Asmussen, reflecting on the situation, regretted his initial vote to keep Michigan in the top 25, saying that his eyes witnessed a loss despite the team’s victory on the scoreboard. This sentiment echoed across many others, as forty-six voters mirrored his decision to drop Michigan from the poll. Asmussen articulated, "I saw them lose in my mind, but they didn’t technically lose," highlighting the disconnect between the game's outcome and the poll voters’ perception, which led to Michigan's unexpected fall from grace.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
