Michigan's History With The AP Poll
For the first time since 2015, the Michigan Wolverines are nowhere to be found on the preseason Associated Press Top 25 released on Tuesday. Following a brutal 2-4 record during the 2020 season, complete restructuring of the assistant coaching staff and questions marks at several key positions, analysts are skeptical at best when it comes to the Wolverines in 2021.
Since the year 2000, the Michigan Football program has appeared on the AP top 25 preseason list 15 times, while finishing as a top 25 team 13 times. From 2000-21, the Wolverines have an average preseason ranking of No. 14 in the country, with an average final ranking of No. 18. In fact, Michigan has finished lower than its preseason ranking 12 times, while finishing higher than its preseason ranking just four times.
Below is a detailed look at Michigan's track record within the AP poll from 2000-2021.
How they start:
- Average AP preseason ranking: No. 14
- Top 5 preseason: 3
- Top 10 preseason: 8
- Top 25 preseason: 15
- Unranked preseason: 6
How they finish:
- Average AP final ranking: No. 18
- Top 5 finishes: 0
- Top 10 finishes: 4
- Top 25 finishes: 13
- Unranked finishes: 8
- Finished higher than preseason ranking: 4 times
- Finished lower than preseason ranking: 12 times
2000
- Preseason AP: No. 6
- Final AP: No. 11
- Result: Decrease
2001
- Preseason AP: No. 12
- Final AP: No. 20
- Result: Decrease
2002
- Preseason AP: No. 12
- Final AP: No. 9
- Result: Increase
2003
- Preseason AP: No. 4
- Final AP: No. 6
- Result: Decrease
2004
- Preseason AP: No. 8
- Final AP: No. 14
- Result: Decrease
2005
- Preseason AP: No. 4
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: Decrease
2006
- Preseason AP: No. 14
- Final AP: No. 8
- Result: Increase
2007
- Preseason AP: No. 5
- Final AP: No. 18
- Result: Decrease
2008
- Preseason AP: Unranked
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: N/A
2009
- Preseason AP: Unranked
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: N/A
2010
- Preseason AP: Unranked
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: N/A
2011
- Preseason AP: Unranked
- Final AP: No. 12
- Result: Increase
2012
- Preseason AP: No. 8
- Final AP: No. 24
- Result: Decrease
2013
- Preseason AP: No. 17
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: Decrease
2014
- Preseason AP: Unranked
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: N/A
2015
- Preseason AP: Unranked
- Final AP: No. 12
- Result: Increase
2016
- Preseason AP: No. 7
- Final AP: No. 10
- Result: Decrease
2017
- Preseason AP: No. 11
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: Decrease
2018
- Preseason AP: No. 14
- Final AP: No. 14
- Result: N/A
2019
- Preseason AP: No. 7
- Final AP: No. 18
- Result: Decrease
2020
- Preseason AP: No. 16
- Final AP: Unranked
- Result: Decrease
