Michigan football fans will have a lot more to look forward to this week when AP poll comes out.
AP voters dropped the Wolverines out of their Top 25 after the 13-12 win over Western Michigan. Michigan didn't play well in Week 1. There is no debating that. But a win is a win.
Following the 17-10 triumph over Oklahoma on Saturday, the Wolverines suddenly have two wins over teams that won 10 games a year ago. Michigan has a win over the No. 11 team in the AP poll. At least Oklahoma was the No. 11 team.
Michigan AP poll vote will be very interesting
It will be interesting to see where Michigan gets voted this week. People have suggested that the committee could penalize the Wolverines for the win over Western, but that's ridiculous. They can just do it based on the eye test, but Michigan would have the head-to-head edge, as well as the benefit of being undefeated right now. Of course, we are a long way from the CFP rankings, but the AP poll is at least a barometer.
As long as Oklahoma and Western don't fall off a cliff, both wins should make the resume look much better come November. Iowa and Penn State come to Ann Arbor, along with Indiana. There are road games against Ohio State and Oregon, too.
It's one of the most difficult schedules in college football. Winning nine or 10 games should have Michigan in the College Football Playoff conversation. The Wolverines were in the top 20 last season, and they didn't have any wins that rivaled this one over OU.
If Michigan is 10-2, there should be no doubt about the Wolverines making the College Football Playoff. Even at 9-3, there could be a case to make, depending on what the resumes of other contending teams look like.
A win over Oklahoma is a huge feather in the cap of this team. Bryce Underwood will need to keep improving. The entire team will. The win over Oklahoma was far from perfect.
However, Underwood accounted for 198 total yards and didn't throw an interception. Michigan didn't turn the ball over and ran for 152 yards against one of the best defensive fronts in college football. The Wolverines couldn't run the ball like that last season against the Sooners.
Justice Haynes ripped off one long run, but this was more consistent. Underwood ran the ball like Mateer did in last season's matchup, which proved to be the difference.
Rivals and Michigan haters will scoff at the playoff talk, and trust me, there's a long way to go, especially on offense, if that's going to become a reality.
But getting a ranked win over a team that made the playoff last season is huge for the Wolverines. It will put them in the conversation, as long as they find a way to keep taking care of business.
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