Michigan Football’s playoff spot should be clinched

After the latest release of the College Football Playoff rankings, it’s clear that Michigan football is basically already in the playoff.

After the playoff rankings were released last night, this much is clear to me, there are five teams left in contention for the playoff, and Michigan football is guaranteed to be in the top four.

The Wolverines face 8-4 Purdue on Saturday in the Big Ten championship game and while winning that championship is critically important to this team and the fanbase, it’s not required to make the playoff — that’s how strong the resume is already.

Of all the teams ranked in the top five, which are Georiga, Michigan, TCU, USC, and Ohio State, only the Wolverines have two wins over top-8 teams. Georgia has one. Ohio State has one and that’s it.

Michigan football has two and they came by an average of 23 points. The Wolverines beat eighth-ranked Penn State at home 41-17 and also No. 5 Ohio State 45-23. There is and will be no better win during the regular season than Michigan’s at Ohio State.

And let’s not forget that Penn State and Ohio State combined to score six second-half points against Michigan. U-M outscored them a combined 53-6.

Michigan football is in the playoff, win or lose

So even though the ESPN FPI gives Michigan a 99 percent chance of making it, it should be 100.  I guess a blowout loss could change the committee’s thinking, but Ohio State lost at home by 22 points and will make the playoff if USC loses.

If USC wins and TCU loses, there will be a fascinating debate between the Buckeyes and Horned Frogs. But there is no debate between Michigan and Ohio State.

The Wolverines settled that on Saturday and therefore, there is no way Michigan football can fall below Ohio State in the rankings. The Wolverines could certainly drop to No. 4 with a loss if USC and TCU both won and that’s not what you want to have happen either.

But in terms of making the College Football Playoff, for all intents and purposes, Michigan football has already done that. This weekend is about winning a second straight Big Ten championship and also keeping that No. 2 seed and avoiding Georgia in the semifinal.

Ohio State might make the playoff and there is a potential rematch for a national championship, but that would mean the Wolverines were playing for a national title and whether it’s Ohio State or Georgia or someone else, it’s going to take an incredible effort.