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Michigan moves from fifth to third in updated CFP rankings

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•11/08/22•

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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy hopes to lead U-M to the promised land this year. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Michigan opened No. 5 in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, but it didn’t take the Wolverines long to move up. The Wolverines are still undefeated at 9-0 after a 52-17 win at Rutgers and now third nationally in the CFP poll behind No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Ohio State.

The Bulldogs are the unanimous No. 1 after beating former No. 1 Tennessee, 27-13. The Buckeyes remain ahead of Michigan despite struggling to a 21-7 win over Northwestern in bad weather conditions.

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Undefeated TCU (9-0) checks in at No. 4, while Tennessee dropped to fifth. Clemson, previously fourth, plummeted to 10th after a blowout loss at Notre Dame.

Michigan is dominating the competition this year and remains in the top five in several national categories. The defense is first nationally in rushing defense (74.6 yards per game), second in total defense at 242.4 yards per game, and third in scoring defense at 12.11 points per game. The Wolverines are fourth in rushing offense, as well, at 250 yards per contest.

Penn State (7-2), a winner over Indiana, and Illinois (7-2), a loser to Michigan State, were the only other ranked Big Ten teams, checking in at No. 14 and No. 21, respectively.

Junior running back Blake Corum is a huge part of the reason for Michigan’s success and subsequent high ranking, head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday.

“He’s definitely having an MVP season for us here at Michigan,” he said Monday. “It would be hard to imagine that he wouldn’t be … the way he’s going, to win the Heisman trophy. He’s leading in touchdowns; leading in points scored. He’s consistently really good every game. There have been quite a few backs who have won the Heisman trophy, and I would bet my truck that Blake Corum is on pace or ahead of many of those running backs that have won that Heisman Trophy.”

Other than some of his pro backs, the Michigan coach added, Corum is the best he’s coached.

“Probably the only exception would be Frank Gore — Blake is the best running back I’ve coached, we’ve been on the team with,” Harbaugh said. “He means that much. He’s having that kind of a season.”

Michigan will face Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

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