Despite coming away with a two-touchdown victory over the Wisconsin Badgers, there were plenty
of reasons to leave the game feeling dissatisfied. Whether it be poor recognition from the offensive line, the kicking game mishaps or drops by the wide receivers, Michigan did not quite dominate like we had hoped.
However, a win is still a win, and the FPI continues to recognize the Wolverines as one of the top teams in the nation. For the second straight week, Michigan lands at No. 12 in the rankings with a score of 17.5, trailing only Ohio State (24.9), Oregon (24.2), Indiana (21.4) and USC (18.7) among conference foes.
Additionally, the FPI gives the Wolverines an 8.1 percent chance of winning the Big Ten, a 31.7 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff, a 4.1 percent chance of making the National Championship Game, and just a 1.7 percent chance of winning it all.
Next week at USC should clarify our realistic expectations for the rest of the campaign. Should Michigan leave Southern California victorious, there will be few reasons to doubt a CFP appearance. A loss would not completely derail the season, but it would leave head coach Sherrone Moore and crew with a thin margin for error.
Shockingly, Texas (No. 8, 19.6) and Penn State (No. 19, 15.3) are still in the FPI’s Top-25 despite falling out of the AP Poll after humiliating losses to unranked teams in Florida and UCLA, respectively. Keep that in mind next time you disagree with where the FPI places the Wolverines.
