What Will It Take For Michigan to FINISH in the Top 25?
There was an earlier Forum Topic on what it would take for M to break into the Top25.
But, of course, getting into the Top25 (although a worthy accomplishment) is not the goal. Finishing in the Top 25 Is!
So, what will it take for M to finish in the Top25?
Here's last year's Final Top25
Only 5 teams have finished in the Top25 with 5 losses since 2002. And, all of these lost their 5th game in a bowl (i.e. all only had 4 losses at the end of the regular season).
| Rank | Team and Record |
| 1 | Florida (13-1) |
| 2 | Utah (13-0) |
| 3 | USC (12-1) |
| 4 | Texas (12-1) |
| 5 | Oklahoma (12-2) |
| 6 | Alabama (12-2) |
| 7 | TCU (11-2) |
| 8 | Penn State (12-2) |
| 9 | Ohio State (10-3) |
| 10 | Oregon (10-3) |
| 11 | Boise State (12-1) |
| 12 | Texas Tech (11-2) |
| 13 | Georgia (10-3) |
| 14 | Mississippi (9-4) |
| 15 | Virginia Tech (10-4) |
| 16 | Oklahoma State (9-4) |
| 17 | Cincinnati (11-3) |
| 18 | Oregon State (9-4) |
| 19 | Missouri (10-4) |
| 20 | Iowa (9-4) |
| 21 | Florida State (9-4) |
| 22 | Georgia Tech (9-4) |
| 23 | West Virginia (9-4) |
| 24 | Michigan State (9-4) |
| 25 | Brigham Young (10-3) |
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 PM ^
No way we would get in with 5 losses. We're starting too low. Not even "Michigan" (the name) would buy us a spot in the top 25 in that case.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 PM ^
I'd say with a front-loaded schedule, they could go 4-0, 4-1--but if they go 4-4 to close out the season, probably no dice. Unless they go 9-4 with a bowl win, maybe.
September 4th, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^
and a few wins over ranked opponents whomever they might be. I suspect we'll at least get our first sniff of the Top 25 if we run the table in September. However, finishing in it will likely require 9 wins.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:09 PM ^
9-4, bowl win, and a win against 2 out of ND, OSU, PSU.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^
I think 9-4 does it. I agree with FA that 5 losses won't do it, but 4 losses will. That means we either go 9-3 regular season (which would have us in the top 15 I bet, based on who we play) with a bowl loss, to a good team, or go 8-4 and beat an above average team in the bowl.
The fact that pollsters are high on a handful of our opponents (OSU, PSU, ND, Iowa, MSU) if we only lose 4 games in the regular season, we could be in the top 25 pre-bowls. A bowl win would solidify it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:40 PM ^
9-4 should do it, and it probably won't matter who the wins or losses come against.
The entire dynamic changed this week, and it could make UM start a lot better than they might have. 5-0 will definitely get them there, and 4-4 the rest of the way won't be enough to take them back out.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:22 PM ^
2010, no earlier, we'll go 10-3 with a bowl win.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
Michigan has to start out well...like 6-0 or 5-1 to shoot up the rankings and get close....then they have to get an upset or two, win the bowl game and finish well.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 PM ^
I think 12-0 with a MNC win would help Michigan FINISH!!! in the top 25, but I'm no expert.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
the problem is that our schedule gets more difficult towards the end. the rankings are a lot less friendly to teams who lose towards the end of the season. if we finish with 4 losses, but all came in the last 7 weeks of the season, we probably wouldnt finish in the top 25.