Michigan jumped two spots to No. 21 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after dismantling Central Michigan 63-3 on Saturday.
The Wolverines dominated their in-state opponent for their most complete performance of the season. Four ranked teams lost over the weekend, creating movement that benefited Michigan.
It’s the first time this season the Wolverines have climbed in the rankings.
Early Season Struggles Behind Them
Michigan opened the season ranked No. 14 but dropped to No. 15 after an unconvincing win over New Mexico. The Wolverines then fell eight spots to No. 23 following a 24-13 loss at Oklahoma.
Saturday’s blowout victory showed significant improvement, particularly on offense.
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood broke out with his legs against Central Michigan. He carried nine times for 114 yards after managing just five rushes for negative yardage through the first two games.
The offense that struggled to find rhythm early in the season put up 63 points against the Chippewas.
Keep moving forward pic.twitter.com/yciuPgwiYW
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 14, 2025
Michigan opens Big Ten play Saturday at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are undefeated and handled their non-conference schedule without major issues.
A win for Nebraska would likely push them into the Top 25. Michigan could crack the Top 20 with another strong performance.
The Big Ten continues its strong 2025 campaign with seven teams ranked in the Top 25.
Four Big Ten teams sit in the Top 10. The SEC leads all conferences with 11 ranked teams, while the ACC and Big 12 each have three teams in the poll.
