Today's Schedule of Games, with Our Rooting Interests
It’s finally here. Undefeated Michigan versus undefeated Ohio State for the Big Ten East title, a trip the Big Ten Championship game, and a spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s all on the line.
Oh, and there are some other games on today too.
Here are the highlights, along with our rooting interests that favor Michigan getting into the CFP even if we do not win in Columbus:
At Noon on FOX: #3 Michigan at #2 Ohio State. Our rooting interest: Duh. Here is a drive-by-drive look at how Michigan beat Ohio State last year. Can we do it again? https://www.mgoblog.com/diaries/here-drive-drive-look-how-michigan-beat-ohio-state-last-year-can-we-do-it-again
Also at Noon on ABC: South Carolina at #8 Clemson. Our rooting interest: South Carolina. The CFP Selection Committee has indicated that they give extra weight to a conference championship. How much is not clear. But it might be enough to vault a 1-loss ACC champion over a 1-loss Michigan/OSU team that did not even win its division. A Clemson loss would take care of that concern.
In the Afternoon at 3:30 PM on CBS: Auburn at #7 Alabama. Our rooting interest: Auburn. The media types are starting to make noises that a 2 loss Alabama should make the playoff, as you knew they would. And you know the CFP Committee would love to do it. The Committee has a fetish for “good losses”, and Alabama’s two very close losses were “good losses” up until last week. Then Tennessee got blown out by unranked South Carolina, and it took some of the shine off of Alabama’s close loss to Tennessee. But it’s still best not to give the Committee any reasons.
At 4:00 PM on FOX: Iowa State at #4 TCU. Our rooting interest: Iowa State. An undefeated TCU is in the CFP. But a one-loss TCU gets ranked behind the Michigan/OSU loser if it is a close game in Columbus. The one-loss Michigan/OSU loser would then likely be picked over one-loss TCU for the CFP, even if TCU is the Big 12 champion.
Also at 4:00 PM on FS1: Michigan State at #11 Penn State. Our rooting interest: Penn State. Our big Penn State win is looking better and better each week. We need Penn State to be solidly in the top ten (they are at 11 now) when the Committee makes their decisions. Plus, you know, it’s against Sparty. Keeps them out of a bowl game.
In the Evening at 7:00 PM on ESPN: #5 LSU at Texas A&M. Our rooting interest: Texas A&M. Even the SEC slappies in the media won’t be able to justify a 3-loss LSU team in the CFP, even if that 3-loss LSU beats Georgia in the SEC Championship game.
At 7:30 PM on ABC: #15 Notre Dame at #6 USC. Our rooting interest: Notre Dame. The hell with Notre Dame of course, but I have no problem rooting for them when it tactically serves our interests. A Notre Dame win puts USC at 2 losses, and out of the CFP.
If Michigan does win in Columbus . . . then our rooting interests are 180 degrees the exact opposite of the above. We don’t want Ohio State sneaking into the CFP through the back door after losing at home. Strange times we live in.
Finally, your Big Ten West Special(s) - meaningless crazy football just for the fun of it:
At 3:30 PM on BTN: Purdue @ Indiana. Purdue wins the Big Ten West if they beat Indiana. Our rooting interest if we win the Big Ten East: Purdue. Purdue is something new and interesting to get our attention if we face them for the Big Ten Championship.
At 3:30 PM on BTN+: Illinois @ Northwestern. Illinois wins the Big Ten West if they beat Northwestern and Purdue loses to Indiana. Our rooting interest if we win the Big Ten East: Not Illinois. Whether we were looking ahead or not when we played them, Illinois is not a team we want to face while our heads are still in the clouds over beating Ohio State in Columbus. Better somebody new to get our focus (see above).
If both Purdue and Illinois lose, then Iowa – who will not die – wins the Big Ten West, thus setting the Big Ten West back yet another century.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2022:
AWAY HOME TIME TV
NOON:
Georgia Tech @ 1 Georgia 12:00 PM ESPN
3 Michigan @ 2 Ohio State 12:00 PM FOX
South Carolina @ 8 Clemson 12:00 PM ABC
West Virginia @ Oklahoma State 12:00 PM ESPN2
Army @ UMass 12:00 PM ESPN+
New Mexico State @ Liberty 12:00 PM ESPN+
Rutgers @ Maryland 12:00 PM BTN
Coastal Carolina @ James Madison 12:00 PM ESPNU
Old Dominion @ South Alabama 12:00 PM ESPN+
Georgia State @ Marshall 12:00 PM ESPN+
Western Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic 12:00 PM CBSSN
AFTERNOON:
East Carolina @ Temple 1:00 PM ESPN+
Kent State @ Buffalo 1:00 PM ESPN+
Akron @ Northern Illinois 1:30 PM ESPN3
Rice @ North Texas 2:00 PM ESPN+
25 Louisville @ Kentucky 3:00 PM SECN
Auburn @ 7 Alabama 3:30 PM CBS
9 Oregon @ 21 Oregon State 3:30 PM ABC
Illinois @ Northwestern 3:30 PM BTN+
Minnesota @ Wisconsin 3:30 PM ESPN
Purdue @ Indiana 3:30 PM BTN
Wake Forest @ Duke 3:30 PM ACCN
Hawai'i @ San José State 3:30 PM -
Memphis @ SMU 3:30 PM ESPN2
Troy @ Arkansas State 3:30 PM ESPNU
UAB @ Louisiana Tech 3:30 PM CBSSN
UTEP @ UTSA 3:30 PM -
Iowa State @ 4 TCU 4:00 PM FOX
Michigan State @ 11 Penn State 4:00 PM FS1
14 Utah @ Colorado 4:00 PM PAC12
Southern Miss @ UL Monroe 5:00 PM ESPN+
Louisiana @ Texas State 5:00 PM ESPN+
Nevada @ UNLV 6:00 PM -
Appalachian State @ Georgia Southern 6:00 PM ESPN+
Middle Tennessee @ Florida International 6:00 PM ESPN3
EVENING:
5 LSU @ Texas A&M 7:00 PM ESPN
22 UCF @ South Florida 7:00 PM ESPN2
15 Notre Dame @ 6 USC 7:30 PM ABC
10 Tennessee @ Vanderbilt 7:30 PM SECN
Oklahoma @ Texas Tech 7:30 PM FS1
Syracuse @ Boston College 7:30 PM ESPN3
Tulsa @ Houston 7:30 PM ESPNU
Kansas @ 12 Kansas State 8:00 PM FOX
Pittsburgh @ Miami 8:00 PM ACCN
Air Force @ San Diego State 9:00 PM CBSSN
LATE NIGHT:
13 Washington @ Washington State 10:30 PM ESPN
BYU @ Stanford 11:00 PM FS1
November 26th, 2022 at 9:35 AM ^
Here's a fancy schmancy schedule link with some nice aesthetically pleasing graphics:
http://gameviewingguide.com/cfb
November 26th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
Always well done M-Dog. Thanks,
November 26th, 2022 at 9:44 AM ^
Win today and none of this matters.
November 26th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
Actually, if Mich does win today, I for one will be rooting for TCU.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
And USC, so we don't have any reasons for the committee to sneak OSU or another SEC team into the playoffs.
November 26th, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
Beat the Buckeyes so I don’t have to read these type of threads anymore.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
I was hoping this was just going to have 1 game listed
November 26th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
You kidding me? Iowa can still win the West? WTH??? I thought Nebraska finally Donnie Brasco'd them last week?!?
November 26th, 2022 at 9:55 AM ^
Amazing, isn’t it? I’m rather rooting for that scenario—a 7-5 Iowa team stumbling their way into Indy just because nobody else wants to be there. That would be peak Big 10 West.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
they're in the wait room
November 26th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
It would be the most Iowa thing imaginable for them to lose their final game, and still manage to back into the title game.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
If UM loses a close one, UM must have USC take a loss this weekend or next weekend, and Clemson must take a loss this weekend or next weekend.
If USC or/and Clemson finish 12-1, either team would jump UM in the CFP.
The CFP committee are human beings like everyone else. The last thing they see will have the most influence on them. If the CFP sees USC win the pac-12 champ game and finish 12-1, USC jumps Michigan's 11-1. Same thing with Clemson. If the committee sees Clemson finish 12-1, then Clemson's 12-1 will jump UM in the CFP.
LSU is gonna play GA in the SEC Champ game. NO TEAM with 2 losses has ever made the CFP. LSU is going to finish it's season with 3 losses. Dont worry about LSU. That will take care of itself.
For UM to get into the CFP with one loss, it's gonna depend on USC taking a loss in the next two weeks AND Clemson taking a loss in the next two weeks.
#GoBlue
November 26th, 2022 at 10:08 AM ^
Not sure about Clemson. They will have no top ten wins at all and a bad loss to Notre Dame.
Nobody thinks they are a better team than Michigan. It will come down to how much they are "rewarded" for winning the ACC against 3-loss UNC.
Hope that SCar beats them today and removes all doubt.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:17 AM ^
Clemson's lack of a strong win isnt the big deal. The big deal is that the CFP could see Clemson win, finishing the season 12-1 just before they vote.
Like I said, the CFP is full of human beings, like all human beings they remember best the latest thing they saw. The CFP seeing Clemson finishing 12-1 will motivate the CFP to put Clemson over 11-1 UM.
November 26th, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
I don't think Clemson should get in. Paper tiger who got owned by mediocre Notre Dame this year. If The Game is decided by 7 or less, both should be in ahead Clemson, though I understand that might be delusional on my part given how the CFPC has been voting.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
If we win, I still hope sparty loses and watches their season end today.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:11 AM ^
Definitely this.
May the sparties lose by several touchdowns and cause great angst both on the RCMB and for the couches of the entire Lansing area.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:52 AM ^
This is painful to type, but if someone put a gun to my head and asked me what I think the final CFP rankings will be in 9 days, I would guess the following:
1. GA
2. OSU
3. TCU
4. Clemson
5. Michigan. (dammit)
USC has two tough games ahead of them. Odds are USC loses one of those 2.
LSU must play GA in the SEC champ game. LSU already has 2 losses. NO TEAM has ever made the CFP with 2 losses. LSU is going to finish it's season with 3 losses. The LSU situation will take care of itself. Dont concern yourself with LSU.
#GoBlue
November 26th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
I’m sorry but there’s no way the committee is going to put an undefeated B1G champion Michigan at 5. I mean I know they’d like to but they won’t. 😉
November 26th, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
I pray you are being sarcastic, because my post clearly implies the scenarios where UM loses a close game to OSU. OF COURSE UM makes the CFP if UM wins today. *sigh*
#GoBlue
November 26th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
Dude……common now you really had to ask???
Even after I included a wink emoji?
Sigh.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:52 AM ^
Gotta be honest here: if things don’t go our way in Columbus, I’ll have zero interest in watching any other games today. Your mileage may vary, but that’s my mindset.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:55 AM ^
If UM loses a close game, I will pay attention to all the other games today.
If UM gets stomped....there is no such thing as college football. Never heard of it. No idea what people are talking about.
#GoBlue
November 26th, 2022 at 9:59 AM ^
Go blue! Go Purdue!
November 26th, 2022 at 10:01 AM ^
Rooting interests: MICHIGAN.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
I haven't seen one person in the media advocate for a 2 loss Alabama in the playoff this year. Who specifically are you talking about?
November 26th, 2022 at 10:11 AM ^
I was wondering the same thing? What or who is saying Bama should be in the CFP or even have a path to the playoff? They didn't win their division or conference and Tennessee who beat them also has 2 losses? Unless Paul Finebaum is saying it, which would be why I haven't heard it. Anyone apart of sports media saying that Bama should get in should find a new career.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
It was mere pillow talk
November 26th, 2022 at 10:12 AM ^
I don't recall exactly who, but it was a TV talking head. Not a minor one either. And he wasn't doing it for "Finebaum shock value", he was being serious.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^
Wow. That's crazy. They are really reaching with that one:)
November 26th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
"If both Purdue and Illinois lose, then Iowa – who will not die – wins the Big Ten West, thus setting the Big Ten West back yet another century. "
Sept. 3, 2022, Iowa beat South Dakota State with this line:
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Final
SDak State 0 3 0 0 3
Iowa 3 0 2 2 7
It isn't a scoregami but 2 safeties in a modern era game - so tantalizingly close.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
Replace "Sept. 3, 2022" with "Sept. 3, 1892" and it's a totally plausible score line.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
Purdue has a history against #2 tho...I'd rather smoke Illinois in a rematch they don't deserve
November 26th, 2022 at 10:05 AM ^
That’s a well-crafted post.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
Rooting interests?
Beat Ohio!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 10:39 AM ^
I’ve got one rooting interest today. Go Blue.
November 26th, 2022 at 10:40 AM ^
if we can't beat OSU, we certainly can't beat Georgia. So I'm not sure making the CFP even after a loss today is really worth advocating for.
November 26th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
One disagreement, if TCU goes unbeaten, Clemson and USC both win their respective conferences with only 1 loss AND a 3-loss LSU beats UGA by a couple scores in the SEC Championship, then I think the SEC could very well be left out of the playoff. This assumes the winner of OSU and Michigan today goes on to win the B1G Championship.
In this case the final 4 should be:
B1G Champ
TCU
Clemson
USC
November 26th, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
The worst thing that can happen to us is that we go to the Rose Bowl.
Life is good.
November 26th, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^
I don't mind if OSU sneaks into the playoffs with a loss. Let's play them again and beat them again.
November 26th, 2022 at 12:15 PM ^
Well done.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:01 PM ^
Our rooting interests have changed