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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 5

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) tosses the ball to an official after scoring on a eight-yard run against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-6. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin (9) tosses the ball to an official after scoring on a eight-yard run against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-6. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Amara Darboh (82) makes a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter defended by Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Derrick Tindal (25) at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Amara Darboh (82) makes a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter defended by Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Derrick Tindal (25) at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

One look at the stats says that Michigan probably ought to have won by far more than a single touchdown. The Wolverines defense held Wisconsin to 159 total yards of offense and forced three turnovers. Wilton Speight threw for an efficient 219 yards and a score, the backfield churned out 130 yards against a strong Badger front seven, and UM escaped with the win at home. It wasn’t pretty, but in the end Michigan claimed a big win over another highly-ranked AP Top 25 opponent.

Jim Harbaugh’s crew is on track to make their regular-season finale against Ohio State a Big Ten East division championship game. The Wolverines still have to play Michigan State, and a home game against Maryland increasingly looks like a potential trap as well. But at this point Michigan is fielding one of the strongest defenses in the country, and its offense is getting the job done against increasingly tough competition. Ann Arbor has returned to a position among college football’s most important destinations.

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