Is this the day that Michigan takes control of their own destiny?
Maybe you think that Michigan is already in control of their own destiny -- that they just need to win the rest of their games and they are assured of being in the playoffs. And almost certainly that will end op being true.
But, currently, if the higher ranked teams beat lower ranked teams for the rest of the year, we will have:
- Undefeated SEC champion and two time defending national champion Georgia.
- Undefeated BIg-12 champion Texas with an out of conference road victory over Alabama (who will only have losses to Georgia and Texas)
- Undefeated USC (almost certainly this won't happen, but if it does) with victories over some extremely good Pac-12 teams, and (assuming they're actually undefeated) a quarterback who's about win back to back Heisman trophies. And an non-conference win against Notre Dame
Those three are definitely in. Then the last two spots will be between Michigan and Florida State. Florida State will have victories over Clemson, Miami, and a non-conference win over LSU
Michigan will have victories over Penn State and Ohio State and a non-conference win over UNLV.
Obviously Michigan's conference record is (at least a bit) more impressive. But if the committee values non-conference strength of schedule (which they occasionally have) Florida State could get the nod. And we Michigan fans will just have to wait and hope that Ward Manuel is a good advocate for Michigan.
Anyhow, that's a long way of saying: go cheer for Andrel Anthony and the Sooners!
October 7th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
There is a zero percent chance that an undefeated Michigan is left out of the playoff
October 7th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
And even less of a chance of five undefeated teams.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
Yeah, I think five Power 5 programs finishing the season undefeated is...unlikely. I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't happened since teams stopped playing high schools, athletic clubs, women's institutes, etc.
October 7th, 2023 at 4:42 PM ^
The last time we finished with 5 undefeateds two of them (Boise State and TCU) were from non-BCS conferences. Then there was Cincinnati from a barely still an AQ conference in the Big East. The other two were Alabama and Texas in the BCS championship game.
October 7th, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^
True - I’m not sure Texas will get by Oklahoma today
October 7th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Yes! Go Blue!
October 7th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Maybe.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
Hopefully
October 7th, 2023 at 2:52 PM ^
I wouldn’t place a parlay bet that would happen!
October 7th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
I’m not saying this is a nonsensical take but I don’t know how to finish this sentence.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
F@CK ohio
October 7th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
In the history of humanity how many times have we had 5 undefeated p5 teams by seasons end?
October 7th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
Oh never!
I think people mean different things by “control your own destiny”. It’s pretty much impossible for all of Texas, Florida State, USC, and Georgia to all go undefeated. I’m definitely not saying that we should in any way worry that an undefeated Michigan will be left out.
But at the moment, making the playoffs requires things out of Michigan’s control. In a couple of hours, that might not be true anymore.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
Hey well if you’re talking about a world-ending asteroid, then I’d agree with you and say surviving today will change things
October 7th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
Hold on. Michigan is currently ranked 2nd in the country. If we run the table, there is zero chance we get dropped 3 spots to 5th. Zero. What things outside of our control need to go our way in order for us to make the playoffs?
October 7th, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^
This is a fucking ridiculous statement. An undefeated Michigan won't be left out but making the playoffs requires things out of Michigan's control.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
Michigan is already in control of their own destiny.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
Those three are definitely in. Then the last two spots will be between Michigan and Florida State.
Can't wait to see 5 team playoffs.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
the higher ranked teams beat lower ranked teams for the rest of the year
It's October 7. The statistical probability of this is probably not even 0.1%.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
Particularly given the fact that none of the teams in contention have looked overwhelmingly dominant. More likely will be which 1 loss teams will get advanced to the Top 4 over the others.
October 7th, 2023 at 5:11 PM ^
That's why I think we're going to have a contentious playoff selection this year. There will be multiple ranked 1-loss teams, a couple will be picked, the rest left out.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
Yes. And they will always have right in the palm of their hands.
game by game , slowly close that fist and take it men
Go Blue
October 7th, 2023 at 1:44 PM ^
Sounds like something Mel Tucker might say.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
Kill all the ferrets... er, gophers.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
Yes, no, maybe so
October 7th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
As long as Michigan can run the table again this year and the other top rated teams lose one, they certainly can control their destiny. I take 'em one game at a time. Lets roll the Gophers!
October 7th, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
If you're not going to add anything of value, please just use the open threads for your ramblings
October 7th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
that applies to at least half of all message board topics.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
Yeah, but that stuff flies on a Wednesday when there's not a lot of content.
On gamedays, there's open threads specifically to prevent these kinds of worthless opinion posts from clogging up the board.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
Here's my take:
Go Blue. Beat Gopher.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:13 PM ^
Why today? It's an interesting thought experiment, but why is the Minnesota game the inflection point? Assuming all those teams and PSU win, then it seems the PSU game would be the day to ask this question. Or, if a University in the State of Ohio beats PSU, then that would be the day.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
How are they not in control of their own destiny right now?
If they go undefeated, I don’t care what else happens around the country. There is zero way an undefeated Big Ten champion is left out.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
Michigan would have to be jumped by not 1, not 2, but THREE teams. After going undefeated. How is that even remotely realistic.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
ESPN has Ohio the likeliest team to make the playoffs. We are not in ESPN top 10 to make playoffs
October 7th, 2023 at 1:52 PM ^
ESPN sucks. Welcome to MGoBlog.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:54 PM ^
This is neither surprising or realistic.
Basically ESPN is saying we will to both PSU and OSU. Ha!
October 7th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
So if other teams lose, that'll hurt their chances to be in the playoffs?
Did I get that right?
Thanks for explaining sports to us.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:43 PM ^
This is just my take but if we win the rest of our games I think we'll be ok.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:46 PM ^
that’s now controlling your own destiny works.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:53 PM ^
A truly terrible headline - and the post is pretty crummy as well. Do better dude.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
Undefeated UM will 100% make the playoffs. Not even a question.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:03 PM ^
No, the actual day was February 30
Is this post just so you can bring up Warde?
I’m pretty sure Michigan is always in control of their destiny
October 7th, 2023 at 3:32 PM ^
A nutless monkey could do better at Warde’s job.
October 7th, 2023 at 4:08 PM ^
you don’t have the slightest idea of what his job actually is.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
There was no way Day was ever going to be able to maintain what Meyer built.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:39 PM ^
Even funnier just reading this after just turning on the Texas Oklahoma game
October 7th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
Ur trollin
October 7th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
Kentucky has a real shot against Georgia. Their defense is very good. Their running back Davis is a lot like Corum. He's a stud. They don't get much from the QB but Georgia hasn't been stout vs. the run. Davis could go off.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
Whoops! This didn’t age well!
October 7th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Was this really worth an entire thread? Awful early to say Michigan is playing for the 4th spot. I'll wait for the CFB Playoff rankings to come out before speculating. Until then and all season long, just win baby!