Michigan football projected to face Notre Dame in College Football Playoff
![Jan 27, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore addresses the basketball crowd during a time out against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Jan 27, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head football coach Sherrone Moore addresses the basketball crowd during a time out against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2839,h_1596,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/148/01j03yesrwqb4yjtvfsq.jpg)
Michigan football hasn't played Notre Dame since the 2019 season. But if On3 college football analyst Andy Staples is correct in his projections for the 12-team playoff, the Irish and Wolverines will renew their storied rivalry in the 2024 College Football Playoff.
Staples took a stab at projecting the 12-team playoff on Tuesday and it created some interesting matchups. It shouldn't surprise anyone to have Michigan football projected to make the 12-team field.
Remember: Top four seeds have to be conference champs and the top-ranked Group of 5 champ gets in.
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) June 11, 2024
What that means: The 5 seed might be the actual No. 2 or No. 3.
Also, you’re going to be very mad if your team is a power conference team ranked No. 12 in the final ranking. https://t.co/Qo2TST0MYz
I know some are expecting the Wolverines to fall off the face of the Earth this season but with multiple projected first-round picks, and what should be one of the best defenses in college football, Michigan football is good enough to make the playoff.
Staples has the Wolverines as the No. 8 overall seed. Notre Dame is the No. 9 in his bracket, which would mean that Michigan football would get to host the playoff game.
Just imagine the TV draw that game would get. That alone would make people question why the 12-team playoff wasn't enacted much sooner.
Staples bracket has Ohio State has the No. 1 seed. Georgia is No. 2, followed by Florida State and Kansas State. The other first-round matchups in his projected 12-team playoff are No. 7 Texas hosting No. 10 Ole Miss is a battle of SEC opponents, No. 6 Oregon hosting No. 11 Tennessee, and fifth-seeded Alabama hosting 12th-seeded Boise State.
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That would make for some exciting matchups. It could also lead to a Michigan-Ohio State matchup in a quarterfinal in a bowl game.