Michigan ejects from college football rankings after Minnesota debacle
MINNEAPOLIS − Michigan football doesn’t deserve to be ranked and for the first time this season officially dropped out of the polls.
The Wolverines, which entered Week 5 at No. 24, are no longer ranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll following a horrid performance in a 20-14 loss to Minnesota which saw Kyle Whittingham’s team lose the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014 and the first time in Minneapolis since 1977.
Just how rare was this? Coming into play, Michigan was 27-2 in the past 29 meetings and 44-4 in the past 48. Whittingham was still in high school the last time the Wolverines lost this game away from home, snapping an 18-game winning streak at Minnesota.
“Besides my marriage and my kids being born, this might be the best day of my life,” Minnesota coach PJ Fleck told Fox’s Jenny Taft on the field postgame, shortly after his team ran over to grab the jug as students stormed the field.
For Michigan, however, it was a nightmare. Michigan had 10 offensive drives that resulted in six punts, two interceptions, one turnover on downs and just one touchdown. The Wolverines held the ball for more than 2:02 on just one of their final eight drives and never had a possession go more than nine plays or pick up more than 37 yards.
Michigan football lost as Kyle Whittingham faces ‘biggest challenge’ as coach
From the middle of the second quarter until the start of the fourth, U-M ran 11 plays for no yards across four drives.
In total, Michigan managed just 180 yards of offense and just 3.7 yards per play, their worst offensive output in a game since their last loss to the Gophers, 30-14 in 2014, in Brady Hoke’s final season at the helm.
Bryce Underwood completed just 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards and two interceptions as he fell out of rhythm as the game went on, connecting on just four of his final 14 attempts. Minnesota got pressure on Underwood on nine dropbacks, he threw just four of them and was 1 of 4 for four yards with both of his picks according to Pro Football Focus.
The running game also was anemic. Jordan Marshall led the way with 10 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown while Underwood had 10 carries for 22 yards (counting three sacks) and Savion Hiter continued his freshman struggles, running eight times for nine yards.
“We’ll sit down, and I’ll sit down with the entire offense and get everybody’s input and everybody’s perspective,” Whittingham said of the offense. “There’s more frustration than Coach Beck … I mean, his track record is outstanding as an offensive coordinator. So, might have to make some tough decisions here. We’ll see.
“Right now, to this point, through this portion of the season, it’s very … it’s unacceptable. The results are unacceptable right now. Again, I don’t have any specifics for you, and I’m not pointing fingers, certainly not pointing fingers at the players, but something’s got to be resolved.”
The Wolverines have a bye in Week 6 before returning to Ann Arbor where they play a struggling Penn State team under another first year coach, Matt Campbell, on Oct. 17.
- Texas (45)
- Georgia (20)
- Notre Dame (1)
- Miami
- Indiana (8)
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- BYU
- Texas Tech
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Utah
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Florida
- Missouri
- USC
- Iowa
- Houston
- Mississippi State
- SMU
- UCLA
- Duke
- Pittsburgh
- Kentucky
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 187; Boise State 161; Nebraska 117; Wake Forest 87; Northwestern 70; Wisconsin 47; James Madison 42; Minnesota 40; North Dakota State 29; Arizona 15; New Mexico 7; Baylor 3; Virginia Tech 1; Texas A&M 1; Kansas State 1.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan ejects from college football rankings after Minnesota debacle
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