Michigan just did something nobody expected, falling completely out of The Associated Press’ Top 25 college football rankings this week, and it all comes after their controversial 13-12 “victory” over Western Michigan. Yeah, you read that right: they *won* a game and then got bounced from the polls. That win was sealed with a Hail Mary touchdown that folks are still talking about, and it earned the Wolverines the truly dubious honor of being the highest-ranked team (starting at No. 16 in preseason) to drop out of the AP poll the very next week after a win, a record that stretches back to when the rankings expanded to 25 teams in 1989. Wild, right?
The “Win” That Has Everyone Talking
Seriously, a win that drops you from No. 16? That’s not just a bad look, it’s a historical moment nobody in Ann Arbor wants to remember. This wasn’t some minor tumble, either. The controversial nature of that last-second Hail Mary, which barely secured a one-point lead, clearly didn’t sit well with the voters. Meanwhile, Western Michigan, the team that *lost* the game, actually jumped 14 spots in the “receiving votes” category! They’re sitting at No. 32 now, with seven voters even including them in this week’s rankings, one ballot putting them as high as No. 23. That says everything about how that game actually looked to those watching.
The MAC Demands Action
This whole situation is so bizarre that the MAC, Western Michigan’s conference, isn’t letting it go. The league actually sent a statement to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff, flat-out asking them to consider recognizing the Broncos as the *actual winner* during postseason ranking deliberations this fall! Western Michigan president Russ Kavalhuna backed his commissioner, saying, “Being bitter doesn’t make you better and this should not be mistaken for weakness or agreement. We can show respect for the game while also asking serious questions; I’ve done both, and I’ll keep doing both.” That’s not just a complaint; that’s an official challenge to what went down!
Coach Whittingham’s Harsh Reality Check
Even Michigan’s own coach, Kyle Whittingham, knows this “victory” was more a wake-up call than a celebration. After the game, he admitted, “This game will go down in history, Michigan history. I don’t know if it’s in a positive way, but it’ll go down in history for certain.” He was clear that despite the 1-0 record, there was no “hooting and hollering” in the locker room. The team knows they have “a lot to fix, a lot of things to address.” Whittingham pinpointed the issues: not playing the run well on defense, not running the ball well on offense, losing the turnover battle three-zip, and not making enough first downs. He put it all squarely on his shoulders. With No. 11 Oklahoma coming to Ann Arbor later this week, they’d better figure it out fast, because another “win” like that could really mess up their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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