Michigan in college football rankings Week 4: Wolverines make ...

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Detroit Free Press

Michigan in college football rankings Week 4 Wolverines make

After falling for three consecutive weeks, the Michigan football team has shot up the coaches poll rankings following thrilling 27-24 victory vs. USC.

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Michigan football: Tony Garcia and Rainer Sabin break down USC upset

'Hail Yes!" Tony Garcia and Rainer Sabin break down Michigan football's upset of USC on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Michigan football won't be falling in the college football rankings for a fourth consecutive week.

The Wolverines shot up the polls following their thrilling 27-24 victory Saturday over then-No. 12 USC.

The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0) jumped five spots to No. 12, the biggest gain in the US LBM Coaches Poll released Sunday afternoon. The Trojans dropped four spots to No. 16.

Texas, the only team to beat Michigan since 2022, sits at No. 2 behind the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Ohio State is No. 3 and heads to Michigan State on Saturday night. Oregon (No. 7) and Penn State (No. 8) also are Big Ten teams ahead of the Wolverines.

The game wasn't for the faint of heart, with Michigan looking like it would cruise to a victory early only to then blow the lead late, yet still come from behind for the last-minute win. U-M led 14-0 thanks to lengthy touchdown scores from Kalel Mullings (53 yards) and Donovan Edwards (41 yards). Those were the only offensive points U-M scored for the game's first 59 minutes.

INSIDE THE WOLVERINES: This is what Michigan football is. Time will tell if it's enough to get back to the CFP

From there, USC began chipping away and had the ball down 14-10 in the third when Will Johnson came away with his Michigan-record third career interception return for a touchdown, this one 42 yards to go up 20-10. Johnson left the game but afterwards head coach Sherrone Moore said he could have returned if need be.

It looked as though the double digit lead may not hold, as the offense went three-and-out or turned the ball over on its first five possessions of the second half which gave USC enough time to take a 24-20 lead with 7:01 to play, when Mullings came to the rescue.

ANALYSIS: This is what Michigan football is. Time will tell if it's enough to get back to the CFP

On Michigan's final gasp, Mullings ripped off a spinning, rumbling, 63-yard run that will go down in U-M lore as perhaps one of the best all time. It set up the offense in the Trojans red zone for the first time all day, and seven plays later, he followed a bone-crushing Max Bredeson block to plow in for the 1-yard winning score on fourth-and-goal with 37 seconds to play.

Alex Orji made his first career start and did very little, but most importantly didn't make any mistakes to cost his team in a game where U-M couldn't have afforded one more misstep. Orji completed 7 of 12 passes for 32 yards, the fewest passing yards in a Michigan win since the final years of Bo Schembechler as coach, and added 13 carries for 43 yards.

But outside of Mullings, this game was won on defense. The Wolverines made life miserable for USC quarterback Miller Moss. According to Pro Football Focus, Wink Martindale's unit had 27 QB pressures — eight from Josaiah Stewart, six from Derrick Moore and three each by Kenneth Grant and TJ Guy — and 16 hurries, seven hits, eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four sacks three batted balls, a pick-6 and a forced fumble.

Michigan (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) will take on Minnesota (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) on Fox's Big Noon Kickoff next Saturday in Ann Arbor when it plays at home for the fifth consecutive week. U-M then doesn't play at the Big House again until it hosts Michigan State on Oct. 26.

Below is the rest of the top 25.

MICHIGAN FOOTBALL GRADES VS. USC: Complementary football back on display in gritty win