Michigan checks in No. 2 in College Football Playoff rankings: Breaking down scenarios, potential opponents, more
Michigan Wolverines football knocked off Ohio State Saturday afternoon at The Big House, 42-27, and has now slid into the No. 2 spot in the College Football Rankings that the Buckeyes formerly held. Michigan was ranked No. 5 last week.
Michigan slots just behind undefeated and top-ranked Georgia and ahead of No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Cincinnati, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 9 Baylor (10-2) and No. 10 Oregon (10-2), which rounds out the top 10.
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The Maize and Blue finished the regular season with a 11-1 record, with their lone loss coming at No. 11 Michigan State in controversial fashion Oct. 30, 37-33. Michigan’s only win over a currently ranked team came against Ohio State. The Wolverines, who are the highest ranked one-loss team, will take on No. 13 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
There’s no question that Michigan will be in the four-team playoff if it beats Iowa, but the Maize and Blue wouldn’t be out of contention if they suffer a loss, though it would still be improbable and would need chaos to ensue elsewhere across the country on championship weekend.
“Iowa’s not going to blow anyone out, so if Michigan were to lose, it would be close,” ESPN analyst David Pollack said, alluding to the fact that the Wolverines could still make the playoff with a loss. “And they’d still be coming off a win over Ohio State.”
Michigan is a double-digit favorite over Iowa and have the second-best chance to make the playoff, behind only Georgia. The Wolverines’ potential CFP opponent and semifinal bowl destination, though, are up in the air.
Alabama takes on Georgia in the SEC championship game this weekend. If the Crimson Tide wins, it could jump up to No. 1 or No. 2, and Michigan could move up to No. 1, stay at No. 2 or slide to No. 3, if the committee chooses Georgia over the Maize and Blue. Oklahoma State has the potential to move past Cincinnati if it beats Baylor in impressive fashion this weekend, but the Bearcats appear to be in strong position to hang onto a spot if it beats Houston this weekend. Notre Dame continues to have long odds to make the top four at No. 6.
The top-ranked team will choose its destination between the Orange Bowl in South Florida and the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Based on historical precedent, Alabama would choose the Cotton Bowl. It’s likely to assume Georgia would pick the Orange Bowl. There is no indication on where Michigan would prefer to play.
Here is a look at the entire rankings this week:
College Football Playoff Rankings Before Championship Weekend
- Georgia (12-0)
- Michigan (11-1)
- Alabama (11-1)
- Cincinnati (12-0)
- Oklahoma State (11-1)
- Notre Dame (11-1)
- Ohio State (10-2)
- Ole Miss (10-2)
- Baylor (10-2)
- Oregon (10-2)
- Michigan State (10-2)
- BYU (10-2)
- Iowa (10-2)
- Oklahoma (10-2)
- Pittsburgh (10-2)
- Wake Forest (10-2)
- Utah (9-3)
- NC State (9-3)
- San Diego State (11-1)
- Clemson (9-3)
- Houston (11-1)
- Kentucky (9-3)
- Arkansas (8-4)
- Louisiana-Lafayette (11-1)
- Texas A&M (8-4)
