Stewart Mandel (TheAthletic) Says Michigan Likely Makes Playoff Even if they lose to Iowa
I don't know how good of a reputation Stewart Mandel (from The Athletic) has, but in his article this week where he predicts what happens in 14 potential playoff scenarios, only 1 of the scenarios has Michigan not making the playoffs (Alabama beating Georgia, Iowa beating Michigan). Every other scenario, including several scenarios where Iowa wins, has Michigan still making the CFP. Interesting. His reasoning is the respect the CFP committee has for Michigan and their impressive wins over OSU and Wisconsin. (sorry to those that can't see the article due to lack of The Athletic subscription, but my summary above pretty much says it all)
Anyway, let's not have to sweat out one of these scenarios and JUST BEAT IOWA! Go Blue!
December 4th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
We aren't going to lose!!!
PS - article tl;dr
December 4th, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
Agreed, it has been foretold.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:51 AM ^
When E.F. Monkey Skull speaks, people listen
December 4th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
That's a chimp skill, buddy!
December 4th, 2021 at 11:53 AM ^
This is the way
December 4th, 2021 at 10:24 AM ^
Beat Iowa!
December 4th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
So if Michigan wins they will advance to the playoffs?
December 4th, 2021 at 11:50 AM ^
Unless it's overturned on review
December 4th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
Yeah, no. There's way too many teams foreseeably vying for those last 2 spots with similar resumes to let in a 2 loss team
Win. The. Game.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Yeah, if Ok State and Cincinnati both win we're going to need the committee to be a 'To Hell with Notre Dame' type crowd for that to happen.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
After talking about how strong the Big Ten is all season, they can't have a playoff with Cincinnati and OK State, and no Michigan or OSU.
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE, so it doesn't matter
December 4th, 2021 at 10:29 AM ^
He is wrong.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:30 AM ^
The only team that gets into the playoff with a loss today is Georgia. Therefore, beat Iowa.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
December 4th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
Let’s not test their soft spot for Alabama.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
I don't want to test his theory. Let's just win the game.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
Shut down the internet, this is the correct answer.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
There will be a cure for herpes before there is a two loss team in the CFP.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:36 AM ^
Username (unfortunately) checks out.
December 4th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
so THAT'S why they keep delaying playoff expansion
December 4th, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
C'mon we're gonna win this one
December 4th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
We’d have a better resume than ND and anyone else as long as we kept it close. So many big road wins.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
I just can't see them shitting on ND. Unless the committee is a 'To Hell With Notre Dame' type crowd, which the more I write this the more convinced I am that they COULD be...
December 4th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Don't put this shit in my timeline, OP.
Win.
The.
Game.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Stewart can shut his whore mouth. We're not losing.
GO BLUE!!!
December 4th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Need to beat Iowa, but Stewart may have a point. Plus UM has a large following. It’s all about the $.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:35 AM ^
I doubt very much we make it as a 2 loss team.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
Go Blue. Beat Iowa.
(I've been writing "Go Blue. Beat Iowa."—or "Go Blue! Beat Iowa!"—for days now. Makes me glad we're not playing a school with a longer name. Imagine all the extra typing all week in "Go Blue. Beat Northwestern.")
Go Blue. Beat Iowa.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^
Just like last week, Michigan is going to dominate. LET'S GO!!!!!
??? pic.twitter.com/edpce5OT3E
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) November 29, 2021
December 4th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
Just win tonight, then none of this matters
December 4th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
I doubt this happens, and it's one man's opinion.
that said, I think the strength of the raod wins M has had this year, the one FLUKE, tight, road loss in a rivalry game makes Michigan essentially a 11.5-0.5 team right now.
11.5- and 1.5 with a loss to Iowa *is* better than most other resumes with 1 losses, including ND and OSU. 2 loss Bama as well, but not one loss Bama, 0 loss Cinci or 1 loss UGa.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
Beat Iowa. Win the game. Always be closing.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
We are winning big. End of story.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:55 AM ^
How about lets not even make it an option for the committee to think about?
December 4th, 2021 at 10:58 AM ^
Dominate start to finish like last week.
Win. This. Game.
December 4th, 2021 at 10:58 AM ^
You can argue all the angles for hours. It doesn't make any sense to me. You should never be rewarded for losing.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^
What about not punishing teams for playing an extra game? If Michigan has a better resume than nd after 12 games why should Michigan playing a 13th game nd gets to avoid hurt Michigan?
Theoretically championship games should only be able to help, and a team in a championship game should never drop below a team that doesn’t play this week
But rather than worry about that just win tonight
December 4th, 2021 at 11:31 AM ^
Like I said, you can argue it for hours.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
They wouldn't be 'rewarded for losing' -- they'd be rewarded for several quality wins throughout the season, and simply be punished less because so many other teams also lost (i.e. moved from #2 to #4 seed but not out of playoff entirely)
December 4th, 2021 at 11:00 AM ^
How about we just win the game, not have to worry about any kind of backing into the playoffs.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^
Wish they hadn't said this, hope the team is under a media blackout.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
Michigan needs to win this game period. Want a Big 10 Championship!
December 4th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
Just win the Big Ten CC.
Backing in to the playoff is not the way to go.
Don’t leave it up the the committee. Decide it in the field today.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
It's not even about backing in.
The playoff is a by-product.
This game is about the BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP!! Win and whatever comes next, comes next.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:16 AM ^
Insert the Admiral Ackbar "It's a trap!" gif.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:16 AM ^
Don't you put that evil on me!
December 4th, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^
Mandel is smoking crack.
The only chance UM could make the CFP, if UM loses to Iowa, is if the following happens:
1. UM loses a razor-close game to Iowa, perhaps mainly due to an obviously incorrect penalty call from the refs.
2. Alabama not only gets crushed by Georgia, but Alabama plays so poorly, no one in their right mind thinks Alabama is a top-4 team.
3. Baylor defeats Oklahoma State.
4. Houston defeats Cincinnati.
5. Utah would likely need to defeat Oregon. (edited. Check. Happened last night.)
Then the CFP is in utter chaos. Only Georgia and Notre Dame (ND has 1 loss. If GA and ND are the only 1-loss teams, ND is in.) For slots 3 and 4, the CPF would have to pick 2 from this list: Alabama, Michigan, Cincinnati, Ok.State, Ohio State. 5 teams with two losses. You could even add Ole Miss, Sparty and Iowa into that list of 2 loss teams the CFP must choose from to fill the remaining 3 spots. So, the committee might consider 8 teams for those two remaining CFP spots.
Let me put it another way, if UM loses to Iowa:
- Bama wins, they get a spot.
- Cincinnati wins, they get a spot.
- Ok.State wins, they get a spot.
- Oregon wins, they get a spot. (2 losses, and they beat-up Ohio State at Ohio State. ed. didnt happen. Oregon got crushed last night. Oregon has 3 losses. Oregon is permanently out.)
- Notre Dame only has 1 loss, so if it gets to the point that all the conference champs after today have two losses, then ND gets a slot.
Theoretically, it's possible UM could still get into the CFP if they lose to Iowa, and theoretically a jetliner is going to fall out of the sky over your house tonight, and smash that brand-new PS5 you were saving to give to your son for Christmas. It isnt going to happen.
December 4th, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
Oregon lost 38-10 last night. They are probably headed to the Alamo Bowl. They might lose their coach as well
December 4th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
Opps. Thank you. I didnt even know Oregon/Utah played last night.
That outcome is great for UM. No way Oregon passes UM in the CFP, no matter what happens Saturday night in Indianapolis.