Michigan Football: Herbstreit Moves Wolverines To No. 1 In Playoff Rankings

With the first College Football Rankings less than a week away, at least one ESPN analyst thinks the Michigan Wolverines have earned the No. 1 spot.

The flood of news over the last week has caused many to question Michigan's incredible 8-0 start to the 2023 season. Regardless of where you stand on the ongoing NCAA investigation into sign-stealing by the Michigan football program, the Wolverines dominance and consistency on the field has been impossible to ignore. 

As a result, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit - a former Buckeye no less - placed Michigan in the No. 1 spot in College Gameday's playoff rankings. 

"For me, it has everything to do with - they have no played the schedule that others have played - but it's impossible to look at them and say they've not been the most dominant team," Herbstreit said. "They can't help who they're playing, but if you look at the offense, the defense, and the special teams - veteran team from a year ago, made it to the playoff, got knocked out by TCU. Most of that team is back this year, you expect them to what they're doing. And they're doing that, and maybe that much more. I think they've just been, to me, the most consistent brand from week one to whatever week we're in now. We're coming into week nine, so that's why I put them just a little bit of Georgia."

While Herbstreit had the Wolverines at No. 1, the other hosts were a bit split on where Michigan should rank in the first playoff rankings. Here's a look at the rankings from each host:

Rece Davis 

1. Georgia 
2. Florida State
3. Michigan
4. Ohio State
5. Washington
6. Oklahoma

Desmond Howard

1. Georgia 
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Oklahoma
5. Washington
6. Ohio State

Pat McAfee

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Oklahoma
5. Washington
6. Florida State

Kirk Herbstreit

1. Michigan
2. Georgia
3. Florida State
4. Ohio State
5. Washington
6. Oklahoma