Michigan didn't need to play football this weekend to impress the poll voters.
Other teams did it for them.
On their bye week, the Wolverines remained No. 4 in the Amway Coaches Poll run by USA Today and appeared increasingly strong, as No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson both needed overtime to remain undefeated. Alabama remains No. 1.
Meanwhile, in the Associated Press Top 25, the Wolverines leapfrogged Clemson to move to No. 3, once again garnering a first-place vote.
Michigan (6-0 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) had a weekend of rest as many players went back to their hometowns and U-M coach Jim Harbaugh worked the recruiting trail, making a number of West Coast stops, including introducing a Homecoming queen and working a down marker at a prep game.
Just two weeks away from the ranking that matters for the College Football Playoff, revealed at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 on ESPN, the Wolverines appear to be in strong shape to be a Top 4 team in those rankings.
Michigan returns to action for its Homecoming game Saturday, hosting Illinois at 3:30 p.m., televised on the Big Ten Network.
After its 41-0 rout of Akron, Western Michigan improved to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference, remaining in the polls at No. 20. The Broncos host Eastern Michigan at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
