Michigan falls in the AP Poll after loss to Oklahoma

The Michigan Wolverines played the only ranked-vs-ranked game of the weekend in a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma in Norman, resulting in a fall down the AP Poll. U-M is now the No. 23 team in the country, while the Sooners moved up to No. 13 from No. 18.

Michigan is one of six Big Ten teams ranked this week, along with Ohio State at No. 1 followed by Penn State (No. 2), Oregon (No. 4), Illinois (No. 9) and Indiana (No. 22). The Wolverines play only one of those teams this year, with the Buckeyes coming to town on Thanksgiving weekend for the regular season finale.

Michigan’s loss was jarring for those who expected it to come out much stronger in its Week 2 showdown. The Wolverine’s Chris Balas summed it up in his postgame observations.

“Like last year’s home game with Texas, this was the litmus test, and the Wolverines failed badly,” Balas wrote. “Yes, it was ‘only’ a 24-13 game on the scoreboard, but the Sooners’ two turnovers (to Michigan’s none) gave U-M life when they were on their heels and allowed them to hang around longer than they should have. 

“To their credit, Michigan came out swinging in the second half to make a game of it for a short time, but those plays you used to know were coming — a timely sack, a pick, a key first down pass — were missed opportunities Saturday night behind a freshman quarterback who, not surprisingly, played a bit like one when his teammates struggled with him.”

Here is the full poll released on Sunday afternoon following the Week 2 slate of games. Each week’s AP Poll will be released on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET for the rest of the season.

AP poll: Where Michigan stands in Week 3

1. Ohio State (57 first-place votes)
2. Penn State (5)
3. LSU (2)
4. Oregon (1)
5. Miami
6. Georgia
7. Texas
8. Notre Dame
9. Illinois
10. Florida State
11. South Carolina
12. Clemson
13. Oklahoma
14. Iowa State
15. Tennessee
16. Texas A&M
17. Ole Miss
18. South Florida
19. Alabama
20. Utah
21. Texas Tech
22. Indiana
23. Michigan
24. Auburn
25. Missouri

What’s next for U-M?

Michigan hosts the in-state Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday at noon on the Big Ten Network in its non-conference finale, followed by a road trip to Nebraska on Sept. 20 for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS.

Head coach Sherrone Moore will serve a school-imposed two-game suspension as part of the NCAA advanced scouting sanctions. He will be allowed to coach the Wolverines in practice this week before the suspension kicks in at midnight on Saturday and runs through 11:59 p.m. following the Nebraska game.