When it was revealed Tuesday night that the Michigan Wolverines were slotted No. 5 in the second to last poll for the College Football Playoff and on the outside looking in, it was not all that surprising. However, it was what CFP committee chairman and Texas Tech athletic director said after the revealing of the rankings that seemed to raise an eyebrow of intrigue in the eyes of Michigan fans.
Hocutt: "The separation between Washington at No. 4 and Michigan at No. 5 is extremely small."
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 30, 2016
Michigan shot themselves in the foot last week in Columbus, and really two of the final three weeks of the season, to the point where they are not participating in championship weekend around college football and in need of help from other teams to get back in the College Playoff picture.
Here’s the deal. Alabama is certainly not going anywhere, they are the undisputed top dog and it seems that even if they lose the SEC Championship Game to Florida, the Tide are not leaving the top 4 and Florida is not jumping up 11 spots to get in. As for Michigan’s arch-rival Ohio State, it seems the committee has made up their mind on where the Buckeyes stand.
Committee says Ohio State/ Penn State are NOT close.
Michigan and Washington are VERY close.
Michigan gets in over Penn State w/UW loss
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) November 30, 2016
Just like the Wolverines, the Buckeyes are not division champs, nor will they be conference champs, but appear to be very much safe in the top 4. And if they say the disparity between Ohio State and Penn State, who beat the Buckeyes earlier in the season head-to-head, is not even close, then the Big Ten champion will have far more difficult time getting in than Michigan.
Let’s turn our attention back to the Wolverines. This week, they are sitting at home and unable to help their own cause. So that means they need help… not a lot of it, but some dominoes need to fall in order to crack the final top 4. So what exactly needs to happen?
