Sporting News predicts Michigan football to make 2024 College Football Playoff

No team has a longer College Football Playoff participation streak than that of the Michigan Wolverines and while many are expecting the maize and blue to take a step back in Sherrone Moore’s first year, the streak may be extended yet.

Michigan football has made at least the semifinals for three straight seasons, with last year being a national championship berth and subsequent win. The College Football Playoff is expanding from four to 12 team this year with the first round being played on college campuses. And Sporting News’ Bill Bender expects that the Wolverines will get that opportunity to play in the postseason once again.

First round (Dec. 21): No. 11 Michigan at No. 6 Notre Dame

The Wolverines and Irish have not met since 2019. Notre Dame will ride a very similar formula to the CFP that Michigan took to a national championship last season, one that includes a nasty defense and turnover-free football. This game would be a throwback to their 1990s instant classics.

While the inclusion may be good news, Bender does have Michigan losing to Notre Dame in South Bend, allowing the Irish to advance to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31 to face No. 3 Utah. We’re not so bullish on Notre Dame at this juncture as Marcus Freeman has yet to put it all together and even under Brian Kelly, ND hasn’t managed to win a playoff game.

Still, if the field did manage to see Michigan get in, if it can figure out the quarterback position, the Wolverines would be the team no one wants to see in the playoff.