ESPN Lists us as #5 in the CFP Rankings So Far
Mates,
Per the ESPN article I will link below, our beloved Wolverines are listed as #5 on the CFP rankings, out of 15 teams they say are still 'alive' to get in. Besides us, ohio and Iowa have a shot to make it. Our now-vanquished friends in EL as well as Wisconson are out, as is our next opponent, PSU.
Top four were
Bama
Clemson
ND
Georgia (trending down)
Go Blue,
XM
October 24th, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
Agree. Imagine the message it would send as well. They would essentially be saying that teams are stupid to schedule marquee non-conference game. MI would have one loss to an undefeated team (either #1 or #2 in the country) played on the road on top of an undefeated conference championship season. The message would be - "schedule a Duke, Vandy, or Arizona State" to make sure you don't lose a non-conference game.
That should and probably would end the current system...of course '97 did too so expect it - Michigan destined to blow up the system and get #$%@ed.
October 24th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^
Bama losing in the SEC champ game would be an automatic out for the playoffs. If you can lose in the conf championship game and still make the CFP unless there are no other comparable teams, the system would blow up.
The only scenario where a one-loss Alabama team is even considered is if they lose a nailbiter to LSU and don't make it to the SEC title game. Then you can at least argue that they finished tied for first in their division but missed the title game due to tiebreakers (see OSU in 2016). Of course Bama's schedule is hot garbage when their best OOC game is Arkansas State, so not sure about being 1-1 at best against the top 25 is going to help things.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
Not likely going to happen..... Why?
Under your scenario, the ACC gets one spot, ND took the second. IF your scenario played out, that would mean only 2 of the Power 5 conferences got into the playoffs.
No way the powers to be of the other 3 conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, and PAC10) would sign off on allowing and 2nd SEC team in over their Conference Champion.
At the end of the day, as long as ND is in play, there is no way any conference gets 2 teams in. They real chaos would start if no one is undefeated......
October 24th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
The other thing is that, without a conference championship game, Alabama's schedule is putrid. They would have had one reasonably difficult game (@LSU), which they lost. The only other ranked team they would have on their schedule is aTm, and they played them at home. Their non-conference is a neutral site game with Louisville, and home games against Louisiana-Lafayette, Alabama State, and the Citadel.
October 24th, 2018 at 7:58 PM ^
I think the creepy little leprechauns go down this week courtesy of navy. I called the buckeye game last week and I have the same gut feeling. The arrogance from their fanbase is at such an all time high that it’s well deserved and the football gods will deliver.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Just win out and Michigan will be in the playoff.
Alabama or LSU will lose
Florida or Georgia will lose
bama/LSU winner or fla/Georgia winner will lose.
out of those 4, whoever wins the SEC will be in.
ND is a wildcard. They win out and they are in. If they lose it opens up stuff a bit.
1 loss big ten champ gets in (cannot have 2 losses).
clemson has a clear path for the most part.
My prediction is - Bama/Georgia/lsu, Clemson, Notre Dame/Oklahoma/texas , Michigan/OSU. Out of these 9...4 will be in without some strange upsets.
October 24th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^
Going out on a limb ND loses to NW. Haught take
October 24th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
But I thought beating nd in the championship game was the perfect ending to the Revenge tour?
October 24th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
If Michigan makes the playoffs...which is still a very tall order to beat psu, osu and win big championship....
lets hope when it’s done they have done enough to get a 3 spot.
More than likely Bama gets 1 spot...do not want any of that.
October 24th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^
Why do they have LSU so low? That's weird.
We're about where we should be (i.e., right on the cusp). As long as we take care of business, we should get in.
October 24th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
Michigan’s biggest threat to a playoff as a 1 loss team is a 1 loss Oklahoma.
Undefeated bama, Nd, and Clemson get in.
then it’s 1 loss Michigan vs 1 loss Oklahoma for the last spot. I’d think Michigan gets the nod but it’s not a guarantee. Second biggest threat is a 1 loss Georgia (or Florida) beats undefeated bama in the championship game
October 25th, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
Barring a loss by the top 4 before the rankings come out, I would be surprised if Michigan isn't ranked #5 when the first playoff rankings come out.