Michigan Football Finishes Fifth in National Polls
1/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
The top five of the Associated Press poll includes national champion and No. 1-ranked Florida State, No. 2 Virginia Tech, No. 3 Nebraska, No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 5 Michigan. The ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll consists of the same five schools, with Virginia Tech and Nebraska trading spots.
With its No. 5 ranking, Michigan has finished in the top five twice during Lloyd Carr's five years as head coach (won 1997 national title) and has been ranked in the top 25 all five seasons under Carr. This is only the third time in the 1990s that the Wolverines have finished in the top five of the national polls, claiming the No. 1 spot in 1997 (No. 2 in ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll) and listing No. 5 in 1992 (both polls). Michigan has finished in the top five of the Associated Press poll 15 times since its 1936 inception.
The Wolverines have been ranked in the top 25 of the AP poll each of the last 15 years. Michigan has also finished in the top 25 of all nine final polls affiliated with the coaches through USA Today and has been ranked in 31 consecutive final coaches polls (22 United Press International and nine USA Today polls).
Michigan completed the 1999 football season with a 10-2 record and tied for second in the Big Ten Conference with a 6-2 mark. The Wolverines have tallied three consecutive 10-win seasons (32-5 record during that period) and won three straight bowl games.
Following is Michigan's week-by-week listing in the 1999 national rankings:
| Date | Associated Press | USA Today/ESPN |
| Preseason | 8 | 7 |
| August 29 | 7 | 7* |
| September 5-6 | 6 | 5 |
| September 12 | 6 | 5 |
| September 19 | 4 | 4 |
| September 26 | 4 | 4 |
| October 3 | 3 | 3 |
| October 10 | 10 | 10 |
| October 17 | 9 | 9 |
| October 24 | 15 | 14 |
| October 31 | 16 | 15 |
| November 7 | 16 | 15 |
| November 14 | 10 | 10 |
| November 21 | 10 | 10 |
| November 28 | 9 | 9 |
| December 5 | 8 | 8 |
| January 5 (Final) | 5 | 5 |
* did not release a poll | ||
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
