Michigan Wolverines Eye Playoff Spot Despite Initial No. 21 Ranking

Michigan football is making waves in the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, landing at No. 21 in the committee’s initial release.

This is a big leap from 2024, when the Wolverines weren’t ranked at all.

With a 7-2 record and 5-1 in the Big Ten, Michigan has its sights set on the postseason tournament.

The journey ahead? It’s not going to be a walk in the park.

Losses to top 25 teams Oklahoma and USC sting a bit, but wins over power four teams, including a solid victory against Washington, have kept their season interesting.

The Wolverines are now locked in on their final three games, especially the crucial matchup against No. 1 Ohio State.

Michigan’s Road to the College Football Playoff

The Wolverines know exactly what’s at stake as they head into the last stretch of the season.

Three games left, and every single one feels like a must-win if they’re serious about the Playoff.

Here’s a closer look at what’s in store for Michigan.

Upcoming Games

Michigan’s remaining schedule includes:

• Week 12, Nov. 15: at Northwestern, noon (Fox)
• Week 13, Nov. 22: at Maryland, time TBD
• Week 14, Nov. 29: vs Ohio State, noon (Fox)

They really need to sweep these last three games to give their CFP hopes a real boost.

The Ohio State game? That’s the one everyone’s circling on the calendar.

Beating the Buckeyes, who are sitting at the very top, could change everything for Michigan.

The Current CFP Rankings

The first CFP rankings for 2025 are out, and here’s how the top 25 shakes out:

• No. 1: Ohio State
• No. 2: Indiana
• No. 3: Texas A&M
• No. 4: Alabama
• No. 5: Georgia
• No. 6: Ole Miss
• No. 7: BYU
• No. 8: Texas Tech
• No. 9: Oregon
• No. 10: Notre Dame
• No. 11: Texas
• No. 12: Oklahoma
• No. 13: Utah
• No. 14: Virginia
• No. 15: Louisville
• No. 16: Vanderbilt
• No. 17: Georgia Tech
• No. 18: Miami (Fla.)
• No. 19: USC
• No. 20: Iowa
• No. 21: Michigan
• No. 22: Missouri
• No. 23: Washington
• No. 24: Pitt
• No. 25: Tennessee

Michigan’s definitely in the thick of it.

To move up, they’ve got to keep winning—and maybe even surprise a few folks.

The Importance of Remaining Games

These next three games aren’t just about racking up wins.

It’s about making some noise and showing the CFP committee—and the rest of the country—that Michigan is for real.

Northwestern

The Northwestern game is one they simply can’t drop.

Sure, Northwestern isn’t a powerhouse, but an upset here would be a disaster for Michigan’s playoff hopes.

They need to bring the same energy as they would against a top team.

Maryland

Then there’s Maryland, another tricky road test.

Winning away from home is never easy, and Michigan can’t afford to lose focus here.

A strong performance would help their case in the rankings.

Ohio State

And finally, the showdown with Ohio State.

This one’s more than just a rivalry—it’s the biggest game left on their schedule.

Beating the No. 1 team would be huge, maybe even season-defining.

It could launch Michigan right into the thick of the playoff conversation.

The New CFP Seeding Process

The CFP’s changed things up for the 2025-26 season, moving on from last year’s 12-team debut format.

Here’s what stands out:

• Dec. 7: CFP Selection Show kicks off at noon on ESPN. The top four teams get first-round byes, based on the committee’s rankings from No. 1 to No. 12.
• Dec. 19-20: First-round games go down on campus sites. No. 5 hosts No. 12, No. 6 hosts No. 11, No. 7 hosts No. 10, and No. 8 hosts No. 9. One game will be played Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. on ABC and ESPN, with a tripleheader Dec. 20 starting at noon.
• Dec. 31-Jan. 1: Quarterfinals line up with classic bowl games. Cotton Bowl is Dec. 31. Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida), Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California), and Sugar Bowl (New Orleans) are all on New Year’s Day.
• Jan. 8-9: Semifinals are set for the Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona) on Jan. 8 and Peach Bowl (Atlanta) on Jan. 9.
• Jan. 19: The championship game lands in Miami Gardens, Florida, at Hard Rock Stadium.

Knowing how this new seeding works is kind of essential for teams on the bubble like Michigan.

It spells out exactly what they’ll need to do to make a run at the title game.

Player and Coach Perspectives

Fifth-year center Greg Crippen doesn’t mince words about rankings. “I always think rankings and all this stuff is kind of stupid, because it doesn’t matter,” he said.

“The only time it matters is when, at the end of the season, how your record is.” You can feel the team’s focus is on winning, not getting caught up in outside noise.

Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is probably hammering home the same point in the locker room.

For the Wolverines, it’s about controlling what they can—showing up and getting the job done, week after week.

Conclusion

Michigan football’s been on the rise lately. That said, the road to the College Football Playoff isn’t exactly smooth sailing.

There are three games left, and every one feels loaded with pressure. The Ohio State matchup, especially, is looming large—can they pull it off?

The new CFP seeding process? It’s a bit of a curveball. Sure, it makes things more complicated, but it also lays out a more direct route to the championship if you’re paying close attention.

Honestly, every week matters now. Michigan’s got to keep their eyes on the prize, one game at a time, or they might just miss their shot.

If you want the nitty-gritty details about Michigan’s journey, check out the full article on the Detroit Free Press.