CFP rankings show Michigan football has plenty to play for

The College Football Playoff rankings have Michigan football at No. 7 which just proves the Wolverines have plenty at stake down the stretch.

It wasn’t a surprise to see Michigan football crack the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings but it might have been a surprise to some people where the Wolverines ended up.

They are currently seventh according to the committee which released its first set of rankings on Tuesday night.

Wisconsin was also ranked 21st and the Wolverines obviously got credit for beating the Badgers on the road, as well as controlling the game against third-ranked Michigan State before losing at the end.

In fact, game control is something the committee has often looked at and the Wolverines should rank very high in that category.

It’s why despite a loss, Michigan football was still fifth in the Saragin rankings after the Michigan State game. The final outcome was a loss and the Spartans made the plays to win, albeit with the aid of some bad calls — but Michigan played well all the same.

Michigan football can still have a special season

It’s clear that the SEC and the Big Ten are viewed as head and shoulders above the rest of the conferences in college football.

They have five of the top seven teams and three teams from the Big Ten West also made the rankings, as well as a bunch from the SEC (7).

But the original rankings are a very good sign for Michigan football. It means that the Wolverines are in line for a New Year’s Six bowl as long as they win 10 games in the regular season.

The Wolverines could also have a shot at the playoff, even with a loss.

Obviously, that would mean beating Ohio State, as well as Penn State, Indiana, and Maryland, and with a little chaos, you never know what could happen.

Remember, Ohio State got a berth as a one-loss team once without winning the Big Ten and Michigan football might be able to do the same.

There is a long, long, long way to go before that happens. But there is a lot to play for — that much is clear for Michigan football.