Michigan Football Drops Out of AP Top 25 Poll Following Controversial Victory
Michigan, after securing a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan with a controversial game-winning Hail Mary pass that involved one second being added back to the clock, was removed from the AP Top 25 college football poll. Voters cited confusion over…
South Bend Elkhart, IN, September 9, 2026 —
The University of Michigan’s football team has been removed from the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 college football poll. This decision follows their narrow 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. The win was secured via a controversial game-winning Hail Mary pass, a play that came after officials added one second back to the game clock.
The Wolverines, who entered the season ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP poll, did not receive enough votes to remain in the Top 25 following their performance. The AP poll is voted on by members of the sports media. Voters cited multiple factors contributing to their decision to drop Michigan from the rankings.
Key reasons mentioned by voters included the confusion surrounding the final moments of the game against Western Michigan. The circumstances of the game-winning play, particularly the addition of a second to the clock, have been a point of discussion. Beyond the controversial ending, voters also pointed to the team’s overall performance, which was viewed as inadequate despite the eventual victory. This combination of a close, contentious win and concerns about the team’s play led to the significant drop from their preseason standing.
Details regarding the specific number of voters who removed Michigan from their ballots or the exact point threshold for remaining in the poll were not provided in the summary. The AP Top 25 poll reflects the opinions of selected media members who cast votes each week based on team performance.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
