The Michigan football team got back to its winning ways on Saturday, defeating Arkansas State 28-18, but that did little to change the mind of pollsters.

The Wolverines (2-1) moved down one spot to No. 17 in the US LBM Coaches Poll released Sunday afternoon, with Texas, the only team to beat Michigan since 2022, jumping up to No. 2 but still falling short of Georgia, which remained at No. 1.

As for the Wolverines, it was a mixed bag of a performance this weekend. The positive spin is that Michigan said it wanted to get back to its identity as a run-first team and it certainly did that. The Wolverines ran 44 times for 301 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. The performance was powered by Kalel Mullings, who ran 15 times for 153 yards and two scores and aided by Donovan Edwards, who also had his best day of the season with 17 rushes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

The concern came in the passing game. Starting quarterback Davis Warren completed 11 of 14 passes for 122 yards, but the three passes not completed to one of his receivers were instead intercepted.

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By the time Warren threw his final pick, an airmailed ball over the head of Semaj Morgan in double coverage that landed softly in the hands of an Arkansas State safety, head coach Sherrone Moore had seen enough and put in backup Alex Orji. Though Michigan's offense was better on his first series, a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, it did little to prove that he was the answer through the air as he completed just two of four passes on the day for 12 yards.

Part of the reason for the struggle was the limited weapons in the passing game. Wide receiver Tyler Morris did not play at all while standout tight end Colston Loveland left the game in the third with an apparent shoulder injury; it's unclear if either will be available in Week 4.

As for the defense, it was largely good when not committing penalties. Wink Martindale's unit had four infractions for 49 yards, three of which extended drives after coming up with stops on third or fourth down, but outside of that the two-deep was rather stout.

Michigan held Arkansas State to 149 yards of offense through three quarters, which included 13 rushes for 12 yards at the time. However, when the third string came in, there were a number of gaffs and they let up consecutive touchdown drives of nine plays for 64 yards and 11 plays for 75 yards.

U-M remains ranked and still controls its own destiny as it pertains to a berth in the College Football Playoff, but with a visit from No. 12 USC looming to open U-M's league slate this week, there's no doubt the players and coaches have to clean it up in Ann Arbor.

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College football rankings for Week 4

After moving to 3-0 under new head coach Jonathan Smith, Michigan State football received six votes, but did not crack the top 25.

US LBM Coaches Poll top 25

First-place votes in parentheses.

• 1. Georgia (42)

• 2. Texas (10)

• 3. Ohio State (3)

• 4. Alabama

• 5. Ole Miss

• 6. Oregon

• 7. Tennessee

• T-8. Penn State

• T-8. Missouri

• 10. Utah

• 11. Miami

• 12. USC

• 13. Oklahoma

• 14. Kansas State

• 15. Oklahoma State

• 16. LSU

• 17. Michigan

• 18. Notre Dame

• 19. Clemson

• 20. Louisville

• 21. Iowa State

• 22. Nebraska

• 23. Memphis

• 24. Texas A&M

• 25. UNLV

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan in college football rankings: U-M falls to No.17 ahead of USC