New AP Poll Gives Michigan Lowest Ranking Ever for Defending Champs

The long-awaited first AP Poll of the college football season is finally here – and Michigan football fans won’t be happy.

With 46 first-place votes, Georgia is the clear-cut leader heading into the season. Ohio State is close behind at No. 2, with 15 first-place votes. Oregon came in at No. 3 with just one first-place vote, while Texas & Alabama round out the Top 5. 

You might notice a lack of defending national champions in that group of top teams.

That’s because Michigan comes in at No. 9 in the new AP Poll, which is the lowest preseason ranking for a defending National Champion in the history of the AP Poll. 

Below, we break down everything you need to know about the new college football AP Poll.

Full Preseason AP Poll Top 25

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Penn State
9. Michigan
10. Florida State
11. Missouri
12. Utah
13. LSU
14. Clemson
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. Oklahoma State
18. Kansas State
19. Miami
20. Texas A&M
21. Arizona
22. Kansas
23. USC
24. NC State
25. Iowa

AP Poll Conference Breakdown

• SEC: 9
• Big Ten: 7
• Big 12: 5
• ACC: 4
• Independent: 1

Other Takeaways from the New CFB AP Top 25

• The Big 12 has 0 teams in the Top 10
• The SEC & Big Ten each have 4 teams in the Top 10
• Washington did not make the Top 25 after a National Title Game appearance

How the New AP Poll Impacts Michigan

For Michigan Wolverines fans, the No. 9 ranking brings back the Michigan vs. Everybody mantra from a year ago that ended with a title. Fresh off a national championship win, the Wolverines find themselves ranked in an unprecedented position for a defending champion.

Michigan Is the Lowest Ranked Defending Champion … Ever

Michigan’s No. 9 preseason ranking is not just notable — it’s historic. Never before in the long history of the AP Poll has a defending national champion been ranked this low heading into the season. Despite proving themselves as the best team in college football last season, the Wolverines now face the daunting task of defending their title in an underdog role.

Tough Road Ahead

The 2024 Michigan football schedule is one of the toughest in the country, with four of their twelve opponents making the Top 25. On top of that, three of those teams are ranked in the Top 5: Ohio State (#2), Oregon (#3), and Texas (#4). This makes U-M’s road to repeating as national champions one of the most difficult in recent memory.

Conference Breakdown and Implications

The Big Ten has a strong presence in this year’s Top 25, boasting seven teams in total. Notably, four of these teams are in the Top 10, including newcomer Oregon. The SEC also has four teams in the Top 10, underscoring the ongoing battle between the two conferences for supremacy in college football.

The Big 12, on the other hand, finds itself without a single team in the Top 10, a sign of the shifting power dynamics in the sport. Washington, a team that made it to the National Title Game last season, shockingly did not make the Top 25, adding another layer of intrigue to the rankings.

Looking Forward: Michigan’s Path to Proving Doubters Wrong

As Michigan prepares for the season, the Wolverines have the perfect opportunity to silence their doubters. While carrying the narrative of the lowest-ranked defending champ might seem like a slight to some, it provides motivation for a team looking to prove that last year’s championship was no fluke.

With high-stakes matchups against top-ranked teams nearly every week, the Wolverines will find themselves inside the Top 5 with a win over Texas in Week 2. The journey to back-to-back titles will not be easy, but if there’s anything this program has proven, it’s that they thrive under pressure.