FOOTBALL

Michigan football falls to bottom of top 15 in new ESPN rankings

In this week’s updated FPI rankings, Michigan football finds itself among the bottom of the top 15.

Published

1 year ago

September 17, 2023

Sep 16, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) is tackled by Bowling Green Falcons linebacker Darren Anders (23) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Today, for the third weekend in a row, Michigan football is on the move in a negative direction in this week’s updated ESPN Football Power Index rankings. The Wolverines began the year at No. 6, and have since dropped steadily every week, now sitting at No. 14 nationally heading into their Big Ten opener against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights next weekend.

Michigan football drops to bottom of top 15 in new Football Power Index rankings

In this year’s preseason Football Power Index poll, Michigan football was ranked No. 6 by ESPN’s famed prediction model. That said, the Wolverines dropped to No. 8 after beating East Carolina, then to No. 10 after the UNLV game. Now, after an ugly 31-6 victory over the Bowling Green State Falcons, Michigan has found itself on the move in the wrong direction for the third weekend in a row.

While Michigan football sits at No. 14 in the new FPI poll, Ohio State has climbed the ladder to No. 1 nationally, Additionally, the Penn State Nittany Lions remain among the nation’s top teams in the Football Power Index model, coming in at No. 6 this week after beating Illinois in the road yesterday.

The 13 teams ahead of Michigan football in the new FPI rankings are: Ole Miss, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Florida State, Penn State, Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

Next weekend, Michigan begins Big Ten conference play (and gets Jim Harbaugh back) against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who are 3-0 right now and coming off of a 35-16 victory over Virginia Tech yesterday.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!