Michigan State vs. Michigan: How Wolverines' Loss Impacts AP Top 25, CFP Picture

For the first time in the better part of a decade, the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans' rivalry game meant more than a chance for in-state bragging rights. Both teams were within the Top 12 in the AP Top 25 and had legitimate College Football Playoff hopes entering Saturday's contest

But the rivalry saw one of its most dramatic endings ever as Michigan State pulled off a 27-23 victory after a fumbled snap by Michigan punter Blake O'Neill was returned for a touchdown by Michigan State safety Jalen Watts-Jackson.

Bleacher Report shared the replay:

Losing against one of your biggest rivals is frustrating enough. But Michigan is about to fall back down the rankings after climbing to 12th, adding more pain to the loss. 

Head coach Jim Harbaugh tried to explain what was going through O'Neill's mind after the game, per MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner.

"He said after he bobbled it, he still thought he could get the ball kicked," Harbaugh said. "But it was a mistake, mistakes were made. It wasn't fielded cleanly, and once you bobble it a few times, he should've just fell on it. Mistakes were made. Very unfortunate."

Michigan made quite a run to get back into the Top 25 in the first place after losing in Week 1 to the now-No. 4 Utah Utes. While this loss probably won't dump the Wolverines out of the polls, it will drop them to somewhere around the 20th spot. It would be difficult to move Michigan out of the Top 25 for two losses against potential Top Five teams. 

The Spartans' win will halt the free-fall they've experienced over the past three weeks. Going into their fifth game of the season, the Spartans sat at No. 2 in the nation. But consecutive close wins against unranked Purdue and Rutgers saw them drop to seventh. 

Now that the 12th and 13th spots are open after Ole Miss was upset by Memphis earlier Saturday, No. 15 Stanford, who defeated No. 18 UCLA on Friday night, is going to make a jump. No. 14 Notre Dame can climb back up as well if it is able to defeat USC on Saturday night. 

Four of Michigan's last five games seem winnable. The Wolverines will meet Minnesota, Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State before their season finale against No. 1 Ohio State.

While their national title hopes are busted, the Wolverines still have a chance to work their way back up the rankings and salvage a respectable season. But this loss will be tough to come back from.

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.