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NCAA football rankings, Week 9: Michigan back in top 20 of AP Poll

After maintaining perfection in conference play on Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines have moved up to No. 20 in the AP Top 25 Poll.

By Satchel Price
Dave Reginek

Coming off a third straight victory in conference play, the Michigan Wolverines have moved up to No. 20 in this week's AP Top 25 Poll. Only one team from the Big Ten Conference, the unbeaten, ninth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, has more support from AP voters at this point in the season.

On Saturday, the Wolverines had a far more difficult time against the Michigan State Spartans than they had in previous weeks against the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers, but Michigan still came through in a defensive battle. The Wolverines failed to score a touchdown against the Spartans, but four field goals proved to be enough.

Currently the 16th-best scoring defense in the nation, the Wolverines have allowed just 8.4 points per game over their past five games, making things far easier for quarterback Denard Robinson and company. They'll likely be challenged again this week, though, as they head to Lincoln to face a solid Nebraska Cornhuskers squad.