November 2nd, 2021 at 7:31 PM ^
Everything is still in front of this team. The only thing that gnaws at you is if we don’t get screwed by suspect officiating and some bad defensive coaching it’s us sitting in the top 4. Just get focused and win out. Better not have a let down against Indy.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:45 PM ^
I know this sounds crazy but Indiana makes me a little nervous. They still have some talent but just haven't put it together this year.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
I like the fact that IU isn't the game before OSU. It's always a scary game against IU, because they exploit the middle of the field.
November 3rd, 2021 at 9:51 AM ^
The refs have been in Michigan's corner vs Ohio State since 2018. They were against Michigan in 2016 and 2017, where an OSU win maximized the Big Ten's chances of getting more teams in the playoffs. But if it doesn't make a difference, expect the trend to continue because Michigan fans are losing interest in The Game. (can't say I blame them)
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:31 PM ^
What happens if MSU and Michigan win out? How do you keep an 11-1 Michigan team out whose only loss is to a top 3 team?
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^
They will put Bama in when the beat UGA.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
We would both be in, with Bama and Georgia. Oregon drops out
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
You don’t, probably. But it would require two of Bama, OU, Oregon, and maybe Wake losing again.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:47 PM ^
So both MSU and UM beat OSU ? Really ? I can see maybe one but not both
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:31 PM ^
Giggity
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^
Surprised to see Oklahoma at #8.
Regardless, it's been a good year so far, showing a ton of improvement. Build on that, address weaknesses and mistakes, and get better. On to Indiana!
November 2nd, 2021 at 11:24 PM ^
They still have Baylor and Oklahoma St. If they win those they will have to be in. If they aren't it's a travesty.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^
Wow! Great news for Michigan. I figured UM would land #9 or #10 in the first CFP poll.
UM wins it's next 3, MSU loses two of three (@Purdue, PSU, @OSU), then the UM/OSU game will decide the B1G east winner, which is essentially a ticket to the CFP because the B1G west stinks, and the B1G east winner is gonna stomp whichever team wins the B1G west in the B1G championship game.
#GoBlue
November 2nd, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^
Something tells me that PSU is going to screw someone's season up - if Clifford stays healthy - he's the key. Just can't figure PSU out. Watched them a few times this year and a very hard team to figure out. One week they look really good, the next like total shit
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:33 PM ^
I just can’t still.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:33 PM ^
Jim needs to understand he has to score 50+ this weekend
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:22 PM ^
Pretty sure Moody can hit 17 field goals
November 2nd, 2021 at 9:21 PM ^
You mean 20 with timeouts?
November 2nd, 2021 at 9:54 PM ^
23, with timeouts at the end of BOTH halves.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
I hope he understands we need to score 50 against OSU.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
I'm optimistic about what's to come.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:58 PM ^
amen darker
Screw Indiana
Screw Penn State
Screw Maryland
F$*# Ohio
let’s go boys, go show-’em you guys are great team….because you are.
LFG!!!!
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:36 PM ^
High enough to justify putting Ohio State in the playoff after they beat us.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:36 PM ^
Before MSU game, Michigan had to win out in Nov to make the playoff, that still holds true after the MSU game
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:44 PM ^
Exactly. MSU appears to matter almost not at all. It has always been about whether Michigan can beat OSU. It’s very likely that MSU loses a game before we play OSU. Michigan just needs to be a goldfish and start winning again, starting with IU.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
MSU doesn't matter at all? Why? If both MSU and M beat OSU -- which is a big if -- then MSU gets the nod over M.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:09 PM ^
Big Ten title, yes. But still a chance to make the CFP. 11-1 and a win vs top 10 OSU and only loss is a close loss on the road to a top 2 team is strong resume
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^
This really is only kind of true. The best case scenario if we were to only lose one game would have been to lose to Penn St. if we were to have beaten MSU and OSU and our only loss was to PSU we would be B1G East champs and on our way to Indy. Either way I get your point and let’s just win baby!
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:38 PM ^
Nowhere to go but up!
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:39 PM ^
Only fair based on performance to date. Glad Michigan is ahead of Oklahoma. Had Michigan won Saturday, might have been # 2. If's and buts. Lots of football left.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:40 PM ^
Win out
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:41 PM ^
In 2016, Penn State won the B1G and a 11-1 Ohio State team went to the CFP.
There’s a good chance this team finishes 9-3. There’s still a chance this team goes 11-1 and makes the playoff.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:43 PM ^
The reason OSU was picked over PSU was the number of losses - OSU had 1 and PSU had 2. But the real crusher for a playoff spot was the way Michigan totally kicked PSU's ass that year. It was a total blowout. PSU also lost to PItt. OSU only loss was a close one to PSU on a blocked punt. No 2-loss team has ever made the playoffs and probably never will until they expand the playoff field
November 2nd, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
59-0 over a good Wisconsin team in the B1G title game impressed the committee and put them in. If they had played it close, would've been Baylor or TCU. Think about that, two fired coaches.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:44 PM ^
Still don't understand Bama being #2... They lost to an unranked, now 2 loss Texas A&M team. I get that they're the defending champs, and they are "Alabama"... but until they beat Georgia, it's a bit of a head scratcher that #2 in the CFP rankings is a one loss team, while an undefeated B1G team with a top-10 win is behind them. I get that UM fans aren't going to agree with me, but that's how I see it. They're getting that SEC bump I guess.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:47 PM ^
What it means practically speaking is we need to pull for Georgia to win out and beat Alabama. Georgia winning means 2 loss Bama won’t be in the CFP and opens up a space where perhaps 2 Big Ten teams could be considered.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:50 PM ^
I agree. Not that they don’t look great, but it seemed like with the rest of the rankings wins and losses mattered. But not with bama. Shocked Oklahoma was so low and shocked Cincy was so low. Tickled to death we are where we are. We have a fighting chance.
Lots of big ten love, and sec love.
November 2nd, 2021 at 9:56 PM ^
Not shocked about where Cincy is at all. Yes, they beat ND, but the rest of their schedule is a joke.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:59 PM ^
I get where you’re coming from for sure, but I think it just comes down to who they think is a better team. If Alabama were to play MSU right now, who would win? I’d expect Bama to probably win by 2 touchdowns or more.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:01 PM ^
agreed.
and OR, good to figuratively 'see' you again. hope you are well.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:16 PM ^
“They lost to an unranked, now 2 loss Texas A&M team.”
The Aggies might have been unranked when they played #1 Alabama, but that victory put them right back in the top 20. TA&M is now #13 in the AP and #14 in the playoff rankings. It’s better to lose early than lose late.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^
Alabama #2 is absurd from a logical POV (wow, they beat Ole Miss, and won at Florida by 2) ........ but that's how these things go. They get credit simply for being Alabama.
November 2nd, 2021 at 10:02 PM ^
Yes. And think of how recruiting rankings play in to perception, even subconsciously. If this same Wake Forest were called "Clemson" they'd be Top 5 at worst.
The really annoying thing is that this sets up the SEC Championship to be completely redundant if Alabama wins. Conference championship games should be de facto playoff games or get rid of them please.
November 3rd, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
The only people rooting for Alabama against Georgia will be non-Georgia SEC fans who want two SEC teams in the playoff and Paullll Finebaum. The rest of the country, at least those areas with teams having an outside chance at getting in, are fervently going to root for the Dawgs.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:55 PM ^
And that Texas A&M team was playing with a backup QB.
November 2nd, 2021 at 7:50 PM ^
Best possible outcome is Michigan and MSU BOTH WIN OUT. Georgia beats Bama in the SEC championship knocking them out. They put Michigan msu in the 2 vs 3 game and we get our revenge on the real national stage.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
While at first this sounded gross, I then realized that this would mean that Ohio State finished 9-3 and I am down with that.
However, the top 4 would probably be UGA, MSU, Oregon, Cinci/Okla.
The playoff needs to be at least 8 teams.
November 2nd, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
If we win out, I’m not sure Oregon is over us. PAC 12 is abysmal. Their best win would be same as ours. They would have a bad loss to Stanford and we would have a loss on the road to the #2 team
November 2nd, 2021 at 9:24 PM ^
Oregon is 3 spots ahead of us, and will have a conference title. Our best win would be over OSU at home. Theirs would be over OSU in Columbus. We're not getting in ahead of Oregon.
First things first, however.