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The College Football Playoff rankings debuted on Tuesday, and now the tide has shifted from the AP Top 25 poll to the CFP. With that, Michigan football now needs to change up its focus this week outside of Penn State. Though highly unlikely, for Michigan to jump into a future CFP ranking, it needs to win some more games. Beating Penn State won’t be enough to earn a spot in the rankings next Tuesday, but it can be a start as the season comes near an end.
Michigan has to play Penn State, Maryland, and No. 4 Ohio State before playing its final game against an unknown opponent — we won’t know who will be the equal Big Ten West team. Michigan football could jump back into the rankings before it takes on the Buckeyes, but the Wolverines have to do a few things before that is even possible. First, Michigan needs to beat Penn State and Maryland. Next, it needs to see some teams ahead of them fall; that’s where this week’s games come into play.
This week Michigan doesn’t have many favorable upsets to pull others down, so instead of upsets being the way, it will ask the favored teams to pull out a win and knock a few teams out of the rankings. These teams winning opens the door for Michigan to be in the discussion for a possible appearance in next Tuesday’s updated rankings. Check out which games can do just that below.
Game 1: No. 15 Iowa State vs. No. 20 Texas
The first game pits two Big 12 teams battling out to appear in the conference championship game as Iowa State and Texas both have two losses. While either team losing helps Michigan, the one that assists Michigan most is if Iowa State can hold off the Longhorns. Iowa State only has one game left in West Virginia, while Texas has to play Kansas State and Kansas.
Texas could lose to Kansas State as the Wildcats did take down Oklahoma earlier this season. If Iowa State wins, it locks up a Big 12 Championship appearance, while a loss puts Texas in its place. Iowa State losing pushes them down the rankings, but I don’t think it makes them unranked. Texas losing knocks them out entirely.
Root for: No. 15 Iowa State
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Game 2: No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 25 North Carolina
What I am about to say may sound weird for Wolverines fans, but you want to cheer for Notre Dame this week. Notre Dame is undefeated and has a chance to go to the College Football Playoff. Sure watching it fail against North Carolina could be bittersweet, but it accomplishes nothing in favor of the Michigan football team. Notre Dame falls, North Carolina rises, and Michigan doesn’t move up.
If Michigan wants its best chance at a solid bowl game, it needs to move up the rankings and hope others lose. North Carolina losing knocks it out with three losses, and with it being at 25, there is nowhere else to fall than outside of the polls.
Root for: No. 2 Notre Dame
Game 3: No. 22 Auburn vs. No. 1 Alabama
Read what I discussed about game No. 2 and rinse and repeat. While Alabama isn’t a rival for the Wolverines, it should be an ally this week as its win over Auburn knocks the Tigers out of the rankings for sure.
Auburn also plays No. 5 Texas A&M next week as well, so if the Tigers think about trying to reappear in the rankings in two weeks, another loss will put them at 3-4 with no chance of finishing the season inside the top 25. Alabama losing could have been helpful weeks ago, but not when the season is coming near its end.