With the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Ohio State Buckeyes winning in decisive fashion on Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines probably won't be ascending to the top of any major polls this week. However, Jim Harbaugh and company can take solace in making a huge jump in one statistical formula, as the Maize and Blue are now No. 1 in ESPN's Football Power Index.
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The full FPI list can be found here, but it is a bit of a surprise to see Michigan at the top. It is certainly worth noting that the Wolverines drubbed Rutgers to the tune of a 78-0 final score and, given that the win came in Big Ten play, it is likely that the performance buoyed the team greatly. Still, ESPN projects Michigan to be a top-five offense and a top-five defense moving forward, and the Wolverines would be the only team to fit that description.
At this point, all signs point to the showdown against Ohio State (in Columbus) in late November as a decisive game in the Big Ten, but according to ESPN, the road team might be slightly superior. Oh, and this ranking is definitely going to cause a stir in Tuscaloosa, as the defending national champions just keep rolling.
