5 takeaways from Amway Coaches Poll, Week 2

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Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. How does Stanford split Michigan/Ohio State gap?

In the top 10 of the Amway Coaches Poll, there are three teams that are too close to separate: the Michigan Wolverines, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Stanford Cardinal. One could easily slot any of these Power 5 schools somewhere between No. 4 and No. 6, but how do the coaches rank them?

The Amway Coaches Poll has Ohio State at No. 4, Stanford at No. 5, and Michigan at No. 6. What this actually says is that the Division I coaches like Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and Stanford’s David Shaw more than they like Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh.

Ohio State lost more elite players to the 2016 NFL Draft than anybody, but Meyer’s Buckeyes continue to get the benefit of the doubt. Stanford might be the best team in a bad Pac-12 conference, but even a new starting quarterback in Ryan Burns has the Cardinal at No. 6.

Michigan may have looked the best of the three schools on Saturday against Hawaii at home, but the coaches are making their message loud and clear: they are not going to side with Harbaugh, whom many feel is alienating and an outsider among other Division I coaches.

Next: 3. Why didn't Florida State leapfrog Clemson?

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