As the college football season approaches, various national media outlets have released their preseason predictions for the upcoming College Football Playoff (CFP).
Michigan's standing in these projections varies widely, prompting a closer look at where they and other notable Big Ten teams are expected to land.
The CFP format reserves the top four spots for the highest-ranked conference champions, with one guaranteed spot for the highest-ranked Group of Five team, provided they aren't already in the top four. This means that if Michigan secures the Big Ten title, they are likely to be a top-four seed.
If they fall short, they will compete for one of the seven at-large spots, unless a Group of Five champion ranks higher than any Power Five champion, which would increase the at-large spots to eight.
Here’s a summary of how national analysts view Michigan's chances this season:
1. The Athletic : Projects Michigan to miss the playoff entirely, with Ohio State taking the top seed. Texas and Oregon are also highlighted as strong at-large contenders as the first ones in outside the top four, while Penn State is slotted at No. 10 and sneaks in closer to the cut line.
2. On3 : Similar to The Athletic, this outlet has Michigan on the outside looking in. They predict Oregon will win the Big Ten in its first year in the conference, with only two Big Ten teams making the playoff with the other being Ohio State, overshadowed by five from the SEC.
3. The Sporting News : Offers a more optimistic outlook for Michigan, including them as the No. 11 seed. While Ohio State and Oregon also make it in from the Big Ten. They foresee a first-round matchup against Notre Dame, with the winner advancing to face Utah.
4. Sports Illustrated : This projection is the most favorable for Big Ten teams, placing Michigan at No. 10, along with Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State joining the party. They anticipate a rematch against Alabama, with the winner facing Ohio State in the next round.
Overall, Michigan appears to be on the playoff bubble, appearing in half of the projections analyzed. Their challenging schedule, featuring strong opponents like Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas, contributes to this uncertainty.
The distribution of playoff spots among conferences also raises the stakes, especially if Michigan and Penn State find themselves competing for a spot without facing each other during the regular season.
As the season unfolds, Michigan's performance against these key opponents will be crucial in determining their playoff fate.
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