Michigan should be #4, ahead of LSU
The stunningly beautiful and obviously brilliant Maria Taylor argues that we should be the #4 team when the first CFP Rankings come out.
Also, Pep said we reworked our entire offensive scheme to suit Shea's talents.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
1. Clemson 13-0 (ACC champ)
2. LSU 12-1 (SEC champ)
3. Notre Dame 12-0
4. Alabama 11-1
5. Michigan 12-1 (B1G champ)
6. Oklahoma/Texas 12-1 (Big 12 champ)
UGA, Florida, OSU, WVU....
That’s why jockeying for positions, perception, hype, etc., matter because that scenario is extremely realistic. The committee will be as objective as possible but in the end they are humans, and not completely immune to media bias.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
I bet you $100 that if Michigan goes 12-1, the CFP doesn’t include two SEC teams.
The idea is preposterous.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^
Yeah, LSU and Alabama in a national championship game (rematch nonetheless) preposterous...
October 25th, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^
Versus a potential rematch of week 1 ND/Mich as the final stop of Harbaugh's revenge tour.
The CFP has had shit ratings far too often to pass up that story.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
I’m not saying a 12-1 Michigan getting left out is definite, but it’s possible. I think style points and end of season opponent’s rankings (overall SOS) will matter as well, but Alabama carries a big ass stick, even at 11-1.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:46 PM ^
Let's bet then.
BPONE is clouding your mind.
October 25th, 2018 at 2:25 PM ^
Too many variables to consider, but if Michigan wins out, they will be in the playoffs.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
No fucking way. Even Delaney would raise holy hell for two SEC teams getting in in that scenario.
A one loss Big 10 Champ, especially if it's us or OSU, goes to the playoffs, unless the SEC, Pac-12, ACC, and Big 12 each have undefeated teams.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
The year that a second SEC team gets in over a one-loss conference champ (zero losses in conference), is the last year of the four-team format.
The backlash against the SEC would be huge.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
Exactly.
October 25th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
Completely reasonable after watching the last two B1G showings in the CFP. We have our rivals to thank for this shit
October 25th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
My wife should look like her but doesn't. (Still love you, Honey!) It will work itself out. Winning out is the only argument to change that.
October 25th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
I made this logical argument on an earlier thread but it was not well received. It doesn't really matter at this point - unless Michigan takes care of business and is passed over by the CFP committee for two one loss SEC teams. These are two huge ifs. We need to focus on one game at a time, namely Penn State right now.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
We need to focus on one game at a time, namely Penn State right now.
I'm not suiting up to play PSU, are you? Our focus has no bearing on their success.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
I always double down when the masses dont agree with my extremely "logical" opinions.
October 25th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
I'm honestly scared that either LSU beats Bama here and goes on to win the SEC Title or Georgia wins out and beats Bama for the SEC Title. I don't know if we would go in, even with winning out, over a 1-loss Bama -- whether or not they win the SEC Title. It sucks, but it's Bama.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^
I have adopted the mindset that I only care about winning the Big Ten. That will be glorious. If anything beyond that occurs, awesome. I was raised on Bo emphasizing the Big Ten. It is something that the team controls. The other crap isn't worth stressing over as it is clearly poisoned with political and monetary influence.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
The monetary influence is good for Michigan. Harbaugh in the CFP is $$$. He's polarizing, so even if you hate him you're going to tune in hoping he gets pants by Clemson/Alabama.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
Same here, for the same reasons. If Michigan wins the Big Ten Championship and they end up going to the Rose Bowl instead of the Cotton Bowl or the Orange Bowl, that will be a little disappointing but it wouldn't take away any of the satisfaction of finally winning that trophy again.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
I don't have that mindset. I want to win a national title.
However, that path may take a while. Right now, this year, winning the B1G would be tremendously satisfying. We haven't done so in 14 years, and winning it this year firmly establishes Michigan as elite in the minds of the nation and (more importantly) in the minds of recruits. And it would be a whole lot of fun.
It keeps the path to winning a national title wide open, and that is worthwhile.
This year has tons of pressure on it, because a bad season (and this season could yet turn ugly) seriously hurts Michigan's ability to get elite recruits going forward. I think it should be a year to make the playoff, but if we get edged out and win a Rose Bowl instead, I'm not going to look upon the year bitterly.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
I am confident that, by December 1, this fear of yours will seem downright silly. A lot is going to happen between now and then. Look at how November goes every year in college football. There's a good chance we're debating whether a two-loss team deserves a spot one month from now.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
Georgia appears to be the OSU of the south right now. They look off. I’d scratch them off your worry list if I were you.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
They're extremely young. That team returns more starters than any other SEC next year. Georgia is going to be very good for a while.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
1 loss Bama vs. 1 loss Michigan:
Both with losses to top 10 or playoff teams. Michigan will have played 10 conference games to Alabama's 8. Michigan will have played 11 Power 5 Schools to Alabama's 9. Michigan will have an extra win, a higher winning % and a conference title and Alabama will not.
It would be a crime to put Alabama in over Michigan in that scenario. I don't care if you are the defending champs. This is what you deserve if you schedule the Citadel in week 11.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
Not a "crime." It would be a tight race. We have a long way to go before that becomes an issue.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^
But if you listen to the pundits, Bama this year is the best college football team in the last 50 years. Can't leave that out.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:44 PM ^
I keep hearing that, but how does anyone know? Their schedule thus far has been Charmin soft.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:45 PM ^
The best college football team in the last 50 years doesn't lose to this year's LSU.
October 25th, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
Last 50 years my ass. Every other year there are so many homers who come up with this crap. I guarantee there was Nebraska, Michigan and probably quite a few others in the 90s that would run all over this Bama team. Go back and look at some of those lines and their tailbacks.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
If we deserve to be in, we'll be in.
If we don't, it's cuz we lost.
Don't sweat the rankings.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^
This especially doesn't matter because it will all work itself out this weekend. They play bama still and we still play osu and PSU. If they beat bama this week they will have earned the right to be ahead of us, if they lose to bama they will drop below us.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
Right, but if LSU somehow wins, Alabama would probably go to #4 -- which would really suck even if we keep winning. Oh well; I guess we just have to keep winning either way.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:04 PM ^
We have penn state next but all I want to do is beat Ohio state. That's all that matters to me.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:07 PM ^
If they beat Alabama, they'd deserve to jump us. If they lose to Alabama problem solved. Who cares?
October 25th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
Sounds right to me, plus Michigan lost by 7...LSU lost by 8 (TIC)
October 25th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
All Michigan can do is to keep winning, the polls will take care of themselves. Root for Bama when they play LSU a week from Saturday, just as a bit of insurance.
October 25th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
You want to root for LSU. That would ensure that two SEC can't get in over a 12-1 Michigan team that wins the B1G. 11-1 Bama absolutely would not be in over 12-1 M.
BUT if Bama beats LSU, there's a small chance the committee could make an argument for two SEC teams with a 12-1 Bama conference runner-up being ahead of M.
October 25th, 2018 at 5:44 PM ^
There is a better chance of an 11-1 bama (losing a close game on the road against LSU) getting in than a bama team that loses the conference championship to Georgia.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
What does Joel Klatt think of this?
October 25th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
No we really shouldn't. Their resume to this point is much better. Not even close.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
I was promised a stunningly beautiful woman. Instead I got some clown show talking to Brady Quinn about the SEC. What gives Hatter?
October 25th, 2018 at 12:20 PM ^
Honestly, you could make an argument for ranking any number of the one-loss teams at #4, but it's all just noise. Keep this in mind when we fall below the Florida/Georgia winner next week.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:20 PM ^
Right *now*, I'd have to put LSU over us, as they have a better win (@ UGA) than we do (@ petit frere), and their loss is pretty comparable to ours (one-score @ a top 10 team) If we win out, we'll be in the playoffs - if they win out, so will they.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
They didn't play at Georgia, it was a home game for LSU
October 25th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
Ah, my bad.
October 25th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
Petit frere is a great insult, especially because no State fan will know what you're talking about.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
BEAT BYE WEEK!
October 25th, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
It doesn't matter. Win out and something in the current top 4 will make room.
The minute we start griping about ranking BEFORE the CFP rankings come out the more we hex the whole thing.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^
Because ESS EEE SEE
October 25th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^
Our current ranking is meaningless, especially if you're gonna parse 4th/5th.
We have 4, hopefully 5, games remaining before our ranking means jack squat.