Joel Klatt: Michigan schedule lines up for run to College Football Playoff

Michigan came away with a huge win in Week 4, knocking off Nebraska by three points to secure its first Big Ten victory of the season. It wasn’t the cleanest performance for the Wolverines, but it was the type of gritty win that could prove critical down the stretch in the playoff conversation.

Some analysts have theorized that Nebraska might emerge as a sneaky College Football Playoff contender, but FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt focused instead on Michigan’s future after the victory. On his latest show, Klatt broke down the Wolverines’ path and explained why their schedule could still set them up for a postseason run.

“The schedule lines up for Michigan to make a run at the Playoff,” Klatt stated. “This game was a big test, and now they’ve got more coming — at USC on Oct. 11, Washington on Oct. 18 and then Michigan State on the road, which is always tough because of the rivalry. And of course, the big one at the end against Ohio State.

“They’ve lost one game already, so the question is: can they go 3–1 in that stretch? If they do, that gets them to 10–2, and at 10–2 I think Michigan is probably in the College Football Playoff, depending on what happens with other top teams. It’s a deep year, but there’s certainly a path for Michigan to make the Playoff, and considering where they were last year, I think fans would take that.”

Alas, Klatt’s point is clear: Michigan doesn’t need to be perfect from here on out to stay alive in the CFP race. The Big Ten schedule offers tough opponents, but it isn’t quite as daunting as what some other contenders face. If the Wolverines can take care of business in a majority of their marquee matchups, they could enter Selection Sunday in a strong position.

Another factor working in their favor is the quality of their lone loss. Falling to Oklahoma looked damaging at the time, but the Sooners have emerged as one of the best teams in the country. That defeat may ultimately be viewed as a resume booster rather than a setback.

With head coach Sherrone Moore returning this weekend, Michigan has survived what many viewed as the trickiest part of its schedule. Now the challenge is to stack conference wins and build momentum heading into November.

The offense, in particular, has been steadied by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who has lived up to his lofty billing. His poise and production have given Michigan fans plenty of reason for optimism.

The Wolverines head into a bye before their next matchup, a home date with Wisconsin on Oct. 4. From there, the season only gets tougher, but if Michigan can maintain its form and keep improving, Klatt’s vision of a playoff berth at 10–2 could quickly shift from speculation to reality.