Michigan Football Unranked In Preseason AP Top 25 For First Time Since 2015

Michigan football continues to fly under the radar ahead of the 2021 season.

The Wolverines were not ranked in the Associated Press' preseason top 25 rankings for the first time since 2015, head coach Jim Harbaugh's first year on the job. The Maize and Blue checked in seventh in 2016, 11th in 2017, 14th in 2018, seventh in 2019 and 16th in 2020.

Michigan received 12 votes in the poll, trailing only, among unranked squads, Oklahoma State (107 votes), Ole Miss (106), TCU (40), Liberty (36), Auburn (32) and North Carolina State (14).

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Defending national champion Alabama slotted No. 1, followed by Oklahoma (2), Clemson (3), Ohio State (4) and Georgia (5) to round out the top five.

Five Michigan opponents were listed in the top 25, including the aforementioned Buckeyes at No. 4, Wisconsin at No. 12, Indiana at No. 17, Penn State at No. 19 and Washington at No. 20.

Michigan will travel to Wisconsin Oct. 2 and play at Penn State Nov. 13, while it'll host Washington Sept. 11, Indiana Nov. 6 and Ohio State Nov. 27.

Fellow Big Ten member Iowa ranks No. 18.

Michigan was also unranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

1. Alabama

2. Oklahoma

3. Clemson

4. Ohio State

5. Georgia

6. Texas A&M

7. Iowa State

8. Cincinnati

9. Notre Dame

10. North Carolina

11. Oregon

12. Wisconsin

13. Florida

14. Miami

15. USC

16. LSU

17. Indiana

18. Iowa

19. Penn State

20. Washington

21. Texas

22. Coastal Carolina

23. Louisiana

24. Utah

25. Arizona State

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 107, Ole Miss 106, TCU 40, Liberty 36, Auburn 32, North Carolina State 14, Michigan 12, Northwestern 8, Boise State 7, Nevada 7, Brigham Young 6, Ball State 6, Houston 5, Boston College 5, UCF 5, West Virginia 3, UAB 2, Army 2, UCLA 2

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