Michigan football tumbles out of top 25 rankings for first time since start of 2021 – Detroit Free Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time since Week 2 of the 2021 season, Michigan football is not in the top 25 of the college football poll.
The Wolverines, ranked No. 22 last week, fell out of the US LBM Coaches Poll after the 21-7 loss to Illinois on Saturday, and were not among the other 11 teams to receive votes.
The Illini gave Michigan (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) its second straight loss, the first time the Wolverines had lost consecutive contests since 2020. It was also U-M’s first loss to Illinois since 2009, and marked Illinois’ first win at home as a ranked team over a ranked opponent since 1991. Illinois remained at No. 21.
Oregon took over No. 1, and Georgia moved to No. 2 after crushing Texas, which fell from No. 1 to No. 6. Penn State, Ohio State and Miami (Florida) round out the top five.
Michigan hosts Oregon in two weeks, visits No. 13 Indiana the following week, and travels to Ohio State to close the regular season.
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Saturday was a nightmare for Michigan, which looked to use its bye week to solve a number of problems which it was plagued by in the first half of the season — namely a lackluster offense — but instead it was perhaps the most uninspiring performance to date.
The third different starting quarterback of the season, Jack Tuttle, completed 20 of 32 passes for 208 yards and an interception, but those pedestrian numbers got the benefit of catch-up mode late. Tuttle had thrown for just 73 yards entering the fourth quarter. U-M lost the turnover battle, 3-0, and are minus-seven in turnovers this season, among the bottom 15 in the country. Tuttle lost a fumble and threw a pick in the red zone, and Donovan Edwards lost a fumble in the first half, which also led to an Illini touchdown and 13-0 lead.
The seven points is the fewest by the Wolverines in a game since a 31-0 loss to Notre Dame in 2014.
“Seven points is unacceptable,” said Kalel Mullings, Michigan’s lead tailback who was one of the lone bright spots with 19 carries for 87 yards and the only touchdown. “That’s terrible. As an offense, we know that, and we understand we have to be better. Can’t win a football game scoring seven points. I’ve never done that in my life. I don’t know who can do that.
“We have to find ways to score points, sustain drives and give our defense some rest and play team football.”
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Michigan, which has not won a game since September, will try to get back on track against rival Michigan State (4-3, 2-2) on Saturday night when it returns to action under the lights in Ann Arbor (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).
Below is the rest of the top 25.
Find the full rankings here. Big Ten teams in bold; first-place votes in parentheses.

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