Michigan Football climbs ESPN FPI rankings after win vs Penn State

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Needing a win and facing a team that needed one, too, Michigan turned to freshman quarterback Tommy Carr and escaped Penn State at home on Saturday by a final score of 21-18.

The ESPN FPI rankings rewarded the Wolverines by bumping them up two spots to No. 32 in the country with an Index score of 10.9. This result is unlikely to change this season’s course, though that date with No. 5 Indiana (25.4) suddenly carries much greater implications.

Michigan’s outlook is still grim: 6.6 wins to 5.4 losses, a 0.1 percent chance to win out, no chance of winning the Big Ten and just a 0.6 percent likelihood of reaching the College Football Playoff. Yet there are still opportunities to rise with the aforementioned Hoosiers, No. 1 Ohio State (28.2) and, somehow, No. 10 Oregon (19.0).

The loss to No. 25 Iowa (13.1) stung, but is not a resume killer — unlike No. 72 Minnesota (-0.2).

Grand expectations aside, how does the Wolverines’ latest win affect your outlook on the season? Can they hang with Indiana now, or is this simply one of those years for Michigan and Penn State? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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