Wolverines Clock in at No. 21 in Initial CFP Rankings

The Michigan Wolverines football team checked in at No. 21 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee's first set of rankings for the 2025 season. The ranking, which mirrors their position in the AP Top 25, places the 7-2 Wolverines squarely in the mix of two-loss teams with a clear, albeit challenging, path to secure a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff.

The Resume: Wins and Losses

At 7-2, Michigan's resume is marked by both impressive victories and understandable defeats. Their most notable win to date came against the currently 23rd-ranked Washington Huskies in a convincing 24-7 home performance. Other Big Ten victories over teams like Wisconsin and Nebraska help bolster their conference record.

However, the committee clearly factored in their two losses, both of which came on the road against tough, ranked opponents. A 24-13 defeat to No. 12 Oklahoma and a 31-13 loss to No. 19 USC prevented the Wolverines from a higher debut. The fact that both losing opponents are ranked suggests the committee views these as "quality losses," a factor that can be critical in their evaluation process. This is especially true this season with the CFP introducing a "straight seeding" model, which still values overall ranking heavily while five conference champions are guaranteed spots.

Crucially, Michigan currently sits third in the Big Ten standings at 5-1 in conference play, trailing only the undefeated No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana. The Wolverines' high position in the conference standings provides a critical edge, as a strong conference record is a key tiebreaker for the committee. Their path to the Playoff is directly tied to their performance over the final three weeks, where they have the opportunity to improve their Strength of Record significantly.

The Road Ahead: Controlling Their Destiny

For the Wolverines, the path to a Playoff berth is simple yet daunting: win out. With three regular-season games remaining, a perfect finish would push them to a 10-2 overall record and would almost certainly elevate them into the top 12.

The key to their climb lies in the regular-season finale: a highly anticipated clash with the undefeated, No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. If Michigan can pull off an upset victory, it would be a resume-defining win over the top team in the nation, immediately validating their standing and almost guaranteeing a spot in the CFP bracket.

Before that monumental rivalry game, Michigan first faces Northwestern and Maryland on the road. While these games may not offer the same "resume boost," a slip-up in either contest would be catastrophic, effectively ending their Playoff aspirations. The committee's initial ranking of No. 21 serves as a clear message: the door is open, but only a perfect, strong finish will be enough for the Wolverines to make their Playoff case undeniable.

The drama of the 2025 college football season is reaching its peak, and Michigan has the chance to write a thrilling final chapter for the world to see.