Michigan CFP Rooting Guide: Championship Week has huge ramifications

The Michigan Wolverines (12-0) are currently ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff Top 25 and play Iowa (10-2) for the Big Ten Championship on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

If Michigan beats Iowa, they’ll be assured a spot in the playoff. However, there are teams on the outside looking in who still could move into the top four once conference championship games wrap up this weekend. In fact, this is arguably the most chaos we’ve seen in the playoff era heading into championship week.

Seven of these eight teams will be playing in their conference championship game this weekend, with the exception being Ohio State. Realistically, Ohio State’s chances of making the playoff are all but over. However, the other seven have paths to make the top four.

No. 8 Alabama faces No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship on Saturday. While Georgia’s currently the higher ranked team and also beat Bama 33-18 in the SEC Championship last season, it’s worth noting that Georgia has lost seven of the last eight in this series.

No. 7 Texas goes against No. 18 Oklahoma State (9-3) in the Big 12 Championship. Texas has lost two games in a row versus Oklahoma State.

— Alabama and Texas faced off in September and the Longhorns won 34-24. Even if Alabama was to beat Georgia, is that good enough to move ahead of Texas if the Longhorns beat Oklahoma State? Head-to-head results should matter if the teams have the same record and both won a conference championship. While Alabama shouldn’t be counted out, the greater likelihood is Alabama loses. Georgia’s currently favored by six points.

No. 5 Oregon will be battling No. 3 Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Washington beat Oregon 36-33 in October in one of the most exciting college football games this season. This is a much-welcomed sequel between Oregon QB Bo Nix and Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. both likely to create explosive plays. Nix and Penix Jr. are both Heisman contenders, and a win here could greatly influence one of them winning the award.

No. 4 Florida State takes on No. 14 Louisville (10-2) in the ACC Championship Game. Louisville has won four of the last seven meetings and shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially now that FSU QB Jordan Travis is out for the season. The Seminoles are battered and bruised and have been ridiculed often despite being 12-0. However, there’s a chance that Florida State QB Tate Rodemaker is able to keep FSU afloat, he’s thrown for five touchdowns and zero interceptions this year. Florida State doesn’t have to win pretty, they just have to win and improve to 13-0. The committee removing an undefeated team from the top four in favor of a one-loss conference champion seems more like television fodder than reality no matter how hard Stephen A. Smith and Paul Finebaum clamor for FSU to be replaced in the top four by Alabama.

No. 2 Michigan meets No. 16 Iowa (10-2) in the Big Ten Championship Game. Iowa has a great defense along with one of the worst offenses in the nation. Michigan’s favored by 22 points and beat Iowa 41-3 in the 2021 Big Ten Championship.