College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 9
By Zach Bigalke
won 49-24 at No. 21 Minnesota. player. Scouting Report. 1-0. Michigan Wolverines. 15. 811. Pick Analysis
Michigan already knew that Penn State and Michigan State had lost in divisional play earlier in the day. Knowing they could position themselves as the top contender in the East against Ohio State, the Wolverines came out in prime time and throttled No. 21 Minnesota on the road for a decisive 49-24 victory to open the season. That will help Jim Harbaugh’s team push closer to the top 15 when the AP Top 25 is released on Sunday afternoon ahead of Week 9 action.
The Wolverines defense was the catalyst in Minneapolis, as they held the Golden Gophers to 326 total yards of offense in the runaway win. After building up a 21-10 lead in the first quarter and going to halftime up 35-17, Michigan never let Minnesota get back into the game. Joe Milton had a solid enough game in his first start at quarterback for the Wolverines, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-22 passing and adding 52 rushing yards and a score on eight carries.
Harbaugh’s crew heads back home in Week 9 for their home opener at the Big House against rival Michigan State. Barring an upset against a Spartans team that fell to Rutgers this week, Michigan should be 2-0 and somewhere in the low teens when they square off against Indiana on November 7 in a game that suddenly has far greater implications for the division race.