Michigan is undefeated.
Michigan is also no longer ranked.
That tells you just about everything you need to know about how bad the Wolverines looked Saturday night.
Michigan entered the season ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 with legitimate expectations of competing near the top of the Big Ten.
One game later?
Gone.
Michigan dropped completely out of the AP Top 25 after its controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan, an incredible fall for a team that didn’t technically lose a game.
But can you really blame the voters?
As far as I’m concerned, Michigan should’ve lost 12-7.
Western Michigan appeared to stop Bryce Underwood’s final Hail Mary with the clock hitting 0:00. Then replay officials determined the Broncos touched the football while established out of bounds with one second remaining.
Michigan was given another play.
Underwood threw another Hail Mary, JJ Buchanan caught it for a 47-yard touchdown and Michigan somehow escaped.
The ending was controversial enough.
The other 59 minutes and 59 seconds might have been even more concerning.
Michigan committed three turnovers, struggled offensively and possessed the football for less than 20 minutes against a MAC opponent.
That’s not a bad performance for the No. 16 team in the country.
That’s a performance that makes you question whether Michigan should’ve been ranked in the first place.
Apparently, the AP voters agreed.
And now things get really interesting.
Michigan hosts No. 10 Oklahoma this weekend, followed later this season by games against Iowa, Penn State and defending national champion Indiana. The Wolverines also have to travel to Oregon before finishing the regular season at Ohio State.
If Michigan plays anything like it did against Western Michigan, that schedule could get ugly very quickly.
Maybe the Wolverines respond by beating Oklahoma and jumping right back into the rankings.
But for now, Michigan accomplished something pretty incredible.
The Wolverines won their first game and somehow convinced voters they were significantly worse than everyone originally thought.
