College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Week 9 AP Top 25 Poll
By Zach Bigalke
Michigan fell hard at No. 2 Penn State this week, effectively ending any chance the Wolverines had of winning the Big Ten this year. Jim Harbaugh‘s team was blown out 42-13 in Beaver Stadium, unable to do much on offense. But the defeat won’t be enough to knock Michigan completely out of the AP Top 25 this week.
John O’Korn struggled once again at quarterback, going 16-of-28 for 166 yards. The Wolverines were held under 300 total yards of offense as they failed to gain momentum either on the ground or in the air. The defense gave up over 500 yards to the Nittany Lions, as they were manhandled by the defending Big Ten champs in a grudge match.
The Wolverines now look capable only of playing spoiler in the Big Ten East this year. They will remain in the AP Top 25 this week, but hanging on by a thread. Rutgers, Minnesota, and Maryland offer chances to recover and rediscover their offensive and defensive prowess ahead of showdowns against Wisconsin and Ohio State to close out the regular season.