T-81 Michigan
1-3 in Big Ten play, T-13th in the Big Ten
Down 52 spots (T-29 to T-81) after a home loss to T-43 Indiana (6-13) in a one-score game. An upset: Michigan entered with 70.5 TDR points to Indiana's 66.2. Now 4-3. TDR score -21.6: win/loss record -5.3, road-win bonus -1.0.
2026 season recap (through week 8)
Michigan (Big Ten) is ranked T-81, tied with Fresno State and New Mexico State in The Davis Rankings after week 8 of 2026, with a record of 4-3 and a score of 48.9 out of 100. That is down 52 from week 7. That puts it in the Do We Need to Talk? tier (ranks 76-100). Its strongest factor is opponent record at game time (60.3 out of 100). Its weakest is recent results (0.0 out of 100).
The highest-ranked opponent beaten so far came in week 2, 17-10 over #41 Oklahoma at home. The loss that stings most in the formula is the week 4 loss, 20-19 to #64 Iowa at home.
On the road it is 0-1. The average margin is +4.6 points per game, with a biggest win of 35 points. 6 of 7 games were decided by a touchdown or less.
Michigan is not ranked in the AP, Coaches, or CFP polls this week, while the Davis Rankings has it 81st.
Next up is #121 Rutgers in week 9, on the road. The toughest game left on the schedule by current rank is week 12 against #1 UCLA. 2 of the 5 games left are against teams currently in the top 25.
Schedule
| Week | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Michigan (home) | W 13-12 |
| 2 | Oklahoma (home) | W 17-10 |
| 3 | UTEP (home) | W 52-17 |
| 4 | Iowa (home, conference game) | L 19-20 |
| 5 | Minnesota (away, conference game) | L 14-20 |
| 7 | Penn State (home, conference game) | W 21-18 |
| 8 | Indiana (home, conference game) | L 6-13 |
Upcoming games
| Week | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Rutgers (away, conference game) | (BTN) |
| 10 | Michigan State (home, conference game) | Sat Nov 7, time TBD |
| 11 | Oregon (away, conference game) | Sat Nov 14, time TBD |
| 12 | UCLA (home, conference game) | Sat Nov 21, time TBD |
| 13 | Ohio State (away, conference game) | (FOX) |
Ranking history 2026
Now #81, Do We Need to Talk? (week 8). Best #9 (week 3). Lowest #81 (week 8). Higher on the chart is a better rank. The shaded bands are rank tiers, with each tier's sticker at its left. A poll is a top 25, so its line breaks in the weeks the team is not in it. The poll lines are drawn a little apart so equal ranks do not hide each other: point at a week for the exact ranks.
Week 8 TDR #81 (48.9, 4-3) Do We Need to Talk? AP NR Coaches NR
Week 1 TDR #12 (91.5, 1-0) AP NR Coaches #24
Week 2 TDR #15 (93.8, 2-0) AP #19 Coaches #19
Week 3 TDR #9 (93.7, 3-0) Winning AP #18 Coaches #18
Week 4 TDR #56 (61.2, 3-1) Character Building AP NR Coaches #24
Week 5 TDR #77 (51.1, 3-2) Do We Need to Talk? AP NR Coaches NR
Week 6 TDR #75 (51.1, 3-2) Character Building AP NR Coaches NR
Week 7 TDR #29 (70.5, 4-2) Feeling Good AP NR Coaches NR
Week 8 TDR #81 (48.9, 4-3) Do We Need to Talk? AP NR Coaches NR
Week by week
| Week | TDR | Score | Record | Tier | AP | Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #12 | 91.5 | 1-0 | - | NR | #24 |
| 2 | #15 | 93.8 | 2-0 | - | #19 | #19 |
| 3 | #9 | 93.7 | 3-0 | Winning | #18 | #18 |
| 4 | #56 | 61.2 | 3-1 | Character Building | NR | #24 |
| 5 | #77 | 51.1 | 3-2 | Do We Need to Talk? | NR | NR |
| 6 | #75 | 51.1 | 3-2 | Character Building | NR | NR |
| 7 | #29 | 70.5 | 4-2 | Feeling Good | NR | NR |
| 8 | #81 | 48.9 | 4-3 | Do We Need to Talk? | NR | NR |
Score breakdown
Each factor is scored 0–100, then weighted into the composite score. Full methodology & weights
| Factor | Score (0-100) |
|---|---|
| win/loss record | 57.1 |
| recent results | 0.0 |
| road-win bonus | 57.1 |
| opponent record at game time | 60.3 |
| opponent record today | 57.7 |
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