The stage is set for the Michigan Wolverines to do something glorious on Saturday. Should they get their fifth win in a row over the Ohio State Buckeyes, that might be just enough to get them into the College Football Playoff, regardless of if they made it to the Big Ten Championship Game or not... Michigan just moved up three spots from No. 18 to No. 15 after Week 13 and heading into Week 14.
Where things stand now, teams ranked inside the top 16 who are not playing for a conference championship still have a great, to a halfway decent, shot of making the playoff. Beating Maryland would not result in a three-spot jump in most weeks, but keep in mind teams ranked ahead of them last week in USC and Georgia Tech lost. They also moved one spot ahead of Texas, who is at No. 16.
These are what the latest College Football Playoff rankings look like heading into rivalry weekend.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (11-0)
- Texas A&M Aggies (11-0)
- Georgia Bulldogs (10-1)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1)
- Oregon Ducks (10-1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (10-1)
- Oklahoma Sooners (9-2)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2)
- BYU Cougars (10-1)
- Miami Hurricanes (9-2)
- Utah Utes (9-2)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (9-2)
- Michigan Wolverines (9-2)
- Texas Longhorns (8-3)
- USC Trojans (8-3)
- Virginia Cavaliers (9-2)
- Tennessee Volunteers (8-3)
- Arizona State Sun Devils (8-3)
- SMU Mustangs (8-3)
- Pittsburgh Panthers (8-3)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2)
- Tulane Green Wave (9-2)
- Arizona Wildcats (8-3)
At 9-2 on the season and 7-1 in Big Ten play, Michigan needs this Ohio State win desperately to get into the playoff. Frankly, they might even need some help to get above the cut line, which looks to be the No. 10 seed, barring any bidding stealing. Michigan stands a shot to make the playoff because its two losses are of quality to Oklahoma and USC, but it would also have the best win over Ohio State.
FanDuel Sportsbook has Michigan getting 10.5 points at home vs. arch rival Ohio State on Saturday.
Will a fifth straight win over Ohio State be enough get Michigan into CFP?
Without question, this theoretical win by Michigan over Ohio State would get the Wolverines past No. 14 Vanderbilt and No. 13 Utah, effortlessly. Assuming chalk the rest of the way, it would get Michigan past No. 12 Miami and No. 11 BYU. A win over Pittsburgh does not guarantee Miami a berth in the ACC title bout, but they need it to get there. BYU would need to avenge its only loss to Texas Tech...
So that win would get Michigan to at least No. 11, with an opportunity to take the last spot in over the likes of No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Alabama. Oklahoma's two losses are to Texas and Ole Miss. Notre Dame fell to Miami and Texas A&M. Alabama lost to Oklahoma and Florida State. Not to butter one's biscuit to much, but Michigan gets the No. 10 seed over Alabama for one reason...
Of those four teams in question, Alabama would have easily the worst loss with a Week 1 defeat at what is now a 5-6 Florida State team. Beating Auburn in the Iron Bowl would not help them. Even more concerning, the Crimson Tide could take another loss in the SEC Championship Game. That brings to question what could happen to Michigan if they were to face an undefeated Indiana and loss in theirs.
It is too close for comfort, but there is a pathway into the playoff for Michigan if it beats Ohio State.