SEATTLE — Michigan football plummeted in the latest polls on the heels of its first Big Ten loss in nearly three years.
Washington defeated Michigan 27-17 at Husky Stadium on Saturday evening — earning revenge of sorts after the Wolverines defeated the Huskies in January to claim the 2023 College Football Playoff title — and as a result, U-M fell 11 spots, to No. 21, in the US LBM Coaches Poll released Sunday afternoon.
The Wolverines fell even further in the Associated Press poll — 14 spots to No. 24. U-M received 170 points, just five ahead of SMU and 12 fewer than Illinois, the Wolverines’ next opponent. The Wolverines will face No. 23 Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten), which jumped two spots i the coaches poll on its bye week, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Kickoff time and TV will be announced next week.
It was a day of chaos for the rankings overall, as five of the top 11 teams went down, and four of them (Michigan included) fell to non-ranked foes. Texas, the first team to beat Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) this season, is the new No. 1.
BIG TEN INSIDER:Michigan football’s loss to Washington reveals murky future for Wolverines
As for the Wolverines, it was another sloppy performance Saturday on the West Coast. It began with the offense, initially orchestrated by quarterback Alex Orji, which stumbled out of the gate and punted three consecutive times to open the game as it picked up 47 yards on 16 plays (2.9 per snap).
In the meantime, quarterback WIll Rogers and the Washington offense picked Wink Martindale’s defense apart. He completed three of his first four throws which included a pair of deep shots that picked up 36 yards vs. Jyaire Hill and a 39-yard bomb over the head of Makari Paige. That was simply a sign of things to come, as U-M allowed a mind-boggling nine pass plays of at least 15 yards or more, and 315 yards passing in all.
In the process, Washington mounted a 14-0 lead which left head coach Sherrone Moore little choice but to make his second QB switch of the year and go with his third passer (who really was probably the first option all along, health permitting) in Jack Tuttle.
QB CAROUSEL:Michigan football, QB Jack Tuttle hope 3rd time hits: ‘He’s giving us the best chance’
It sparked the Wolverines for a time, as his first three possessions resulted in with a touchdown drive of seven plays and 75 yards, a field goal drive of eight plays and 56 yards and one more touchdown drive of 11 plays and 75 yards, with Michigan taking a 17-14 lead with 8:38 left in the third.
From there, it was all Huskies. Steve Belichick’s defense made the necessary adjustments and shut U-M’s offense down on the next five possessions.
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GRADES VS. WASHINGTON:QB carousel raises big questions about coaches
The Wolverines were banged-up for the contest, as they were missing a pair of starting offensive linemen in LT Myles Hinton and C Dominick Giudice, plus edge Derrick Moore and several key reserves, such as Jaden Mangham, Aamir Hall, Ja’Den McBurrows and Wesley Walker. U-M now enters the first of two bye weeks.
Below is the rest of the coaches poll top 25.
US LBM Coaches Poll top 25, Oct. 6
Find the full rankings here. First-place votes in parentheses.
1. Texas (44), 5-0.
2. Ohio State (11), 5-0.
3. Oregon, 5-0.
4. Georgia, 4-1 .
5. Penn State, 5-0.
6. Miami (Fla.), 6-0.
7. Alabama, 4-1.
8. Mississippi, 5-1.
9. Tennessee, 4-1.
10. LSU, 4-1.
11. Clemson, 4-1.
12. Notre Dame, 4-1.
13. Iowa State, 5-0.
14. Texas A&M, 5-1.
15. BYU, 5-0.
16. Oklahoma, 4-1.
17. Utah, 4-1.
18. Missouri, 4-1.
19. Kansas State, 4-1.
20. Indiana, 6-0.
21. Michigan, 4-2.
22. Boise State, 4-1.
23. Illinois, 4-1.
24. Pittsburgh, 5-0.
25. SMU, 5-1.
