Michigan football thrives on off-field drama, as well as remaining top runners in the AP Poll

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Michigan has added to its case to be No. 1 but finds itself embroiled in another off-field scandal. Today, I’m joined by Wolverines writer Austin Meek to reveal the true state of Jim Harbaugh’s program.

Here’s what’s happening in college football as of Saturday…

The reconnaissance leaders are alive

Do the folders belong?

Despite some shaky performances, the top six teams in the AP poll remained intact on Sunday. Here are those top six (with their first-place votes in parentheses):

1. Georgia (28)

2. Michigan (19)

3. Ohio State (3)

4. Florida State (3)

5. Washington

6. Oklahoma

USC fell six places to 24th – His lowest rating since leaving the poll in 2021. Pennsylvania fell to tenth place. And North Carolina suffered the largest decline Moving up seven spots to 17th place after losing to Virginia 1-5 previously. Undefeated James Madison jumped up to No. 25 to join No. 19 Air Force and No. 22 Tulane as a 5-seed group.

Until Saturday’s analysis:

• Overrated: No. 21 Tennessee. Our pollster Matt Brown made the case in his weekly Behind the Poll analysis. The Vols were down by four points, but Matt kicked them off the ballot entirely after their loss to Alabama. The 5-2 Vols don’t have much reason to be higher than unranked Florida, which is also 5-2 and beat Tennessee in Week 3.
• Underrated: No. 20 Duke. The Blue Devils’ 38-20 loss to Florida State came on the road against a potential College Football Playoff team. Riley Leonard’s return from injury hasn’t been flawless, and he’s been injured again, but this is one of the truly tested teams in the country. (James Madison, who is 7-0, might be worth moving up a few spots, too).

Michigan’s response

What’s next for Wolverine? Harbo?

Michigan beat Michigan State 49-0 on Saturday despite the off-field drama piling up for the Wolverines. (Last week, an NCAA investigation into the program over allegations of sign-stealing was revealed.) Here’s a Q&A with “athlete”Michigan writer, Austin Meek.

What has been the response to the sign-stealing controversy from players and coaches within the program?

Players and coaches didn’t have much to say about that after Saturday’s win over Michigan State. Jim Harbaugh alluded to “attempts to shrink the team” and pointed to the statement he issued Thursday denying any knowledge of unauthorized off-campus scouting.

The players said the usual things about blocking out distractions and maintaining focus on the next opponent. All of these questions were asked when Harbaugh was facing a three-game suspension due to separate allegations from the NCAA, and the answers are well-rehearsed now. Deep down, I imagine the players and coaches are not happy about another off-field controversy.

How, if at all, could another investigation impact Harbaugh’s future with the Wolverines?

Before news of this investigation broke, Michigan was working on a contract for Harbaugh that could make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten. I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually happens, but that affects the timing.

The bigger question is How the investigation could play a role in Harbaugh’s NFL prospects. He has explored the NFL the past few seasons, and his ongoing battles with the NCAA will give him incentive to do so again. If teams had reservations about signing him before, the recent allegations probably don’t help.

Six people on The athleteAn eight-person committee selected Michigan as this year’s national champion. do you agree?

I don’t think there’s a team playing better than Michigan right now. Beating teams in the Big Ten has never been a problem for Michigan: It’s the teams in the College Football Playoff that have given the Wolverines a problem.

I’d still like to see Michigan line up against a top-10 caliber opponent before declaring the Wolverines the team to beat. If I had to say right now, Michigan looks like the most complete team in a field that is still wide open.

It will be interesting to see if the Wolverines can continue to respond in their next game: Nov. 4 vs. Purdue

admire: 30.1 percent

I do not like it: 48.9 percent

No opinion: 21 percent

While McAfee presented the popular College Kickers segment, he also courted controversy on his signature college football pregame show. A mini-feud with the Washington State program and fans a few weeks ago rubbed some the wrong way.

“Pat has been a great addition to the ‘College GameDay’ family, and our viewership gains over the past year and a half are proof of that fact,” an ESPN spokesperson said Sunday. “He’s got a home on the show for as long as he wants.”

But after reviewing court transcripts, depositions and letters in the UGA archives and meeting with Potts’ descendants, Seth looked into what happened and what the ramifications were.

I wonder what college football controversies of the 2020s we’ll still be talking about in 2080.