Fenton, MI — November 11, 2022
If you want a chance to play for the College Football National Championship, you have to be ranked in the top four at the season’s end. The Michigan Wolverines staked a claim to one of those spots after the latest list of contenders was released by the College Football Playoff selection committee.
The top four college football teams in the country as of November 8th, 2022
| Logo | Team | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Georgia | 9-0 |
| 2 |  |
Ohio State | 9-0 |
| 3 |  |
Michigan | 9-0 |
| 4 |  |
TCU | 9-0 |
The defending champion Georgia Bulldogs shellacked former number-one Tennessee 27-13 to move to the top spot, while the Volunteers dropped out of the top four settling in fifth. Ohio State retained the second position in the rankings despite a lackluster 21-7 win over 1-8 Northwestern.
Michigan trailed Rutgers 17-14 at halftime. They blew the game open in the second half, scoring 38 unanswered points to post a 52-17 victory. The Wolverines entered the rankings last week at number five.
Clemson’s embarrassing loss, 35-14, to Notre Dame sent the Tigers plummeting from fourth to tenth. Opening the door for Michigan to move up. TCU’s 34-24 win over Texas Tech, combined with Alabama’s second loss of the season, moved the Horned Frogs from seventh to fourth.
Alabama’s 32-31 overtime loss to LSU leaves the Crimson Tide 7-2 and likely missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Up Next for Michigan
The Wolverines return to the friendly confines of the Big House for their next two games against 3-6 Nebraska and the 16th-ranked Illinois Illini, who lost for the first time last week against Michigan State.
The final game of the regular season, a November 26th matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes, looks like it will be a playoff elimination game. The winner will have to survive a Big Ten Title Game matchup but will be heavily favored regardless of the opponent.
Michigan State’s (4-5) upset win over Illinois keeps them alive for a bowl bid. They will have to earn two more victories over their final three games against Rutgers and Indiana at home, with Penn State looming in the season finale at Happy Valley.
