4. Michigan Wolverines (6-0)
Michigan is in the College Football Playoff if … it wins the rest of its games. The ranking here is about control among the top unbeaten teams, and a 13-0 is in no matter what.
However, one loss doesn’t get it done unless Michigan is able to still go on to win the Big Ten Championship. A 12-1 Wolverine team is in if it takes the title, but again, that loss can’t be against …
It’s all going to go wrong against … Ohio State on November 27th. The one other Buckeye loss came outside of the Big Ten to Oregon.
There could be a loss at Michigan State or at Penn State and still be fine if the Spartans lose twice or if the Nittany Lions lose once more, but losing to the Buckeyes would be a disaster – OSU won’t likely lose two Big Ten games.
Will Michigan get into the College Football Playoff? No, but a New Year’s Six bowl will happen if the Wolverines finish 11-1. The Rose Bowl is possible even at 10-2.
Ranking the teams alive for the College Football Playoff
UTSA | San Diego State | Coastal Carolina
SMU | Texas A&M | Auburn | Ole Miss
Notre Dame | Kentucky | Cincinnati
Baylor | Pitt | NC State | Wake Forest
Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State | Iowa
Michigan State | Oklahoma St | Michigan
Alabama | Oklahoma | Georgia
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings