Michigan football improves to No. 3 in new College Football Playoff rankings

Wolverines among 4 undefeated teams remaining in country

Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett (23) returns an interception against Rutgers during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 in Piscataway, N.J. (Noah K. Murray, The Associated Press 2022)

ANN ARBOR, Mich.Michigan jumped up two spots to No. 3 in the second edition of this season’s College Football Playoff rankings.

The Wolverines improved to 9-0 this weekend after scoring 38 unanswered points in the second half to blow out Rutgers, 52-17. Only four undefeated teams remain: Michigan, Georgia, Ohio State, and TCU.

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In the season’s first CFP poll, Michigan was surprisingly ranked No. 5 behind Clemson, but the Tigers ran into some trouble Saturday night, getting dominated by a Notre Dame team that has already lost to the likes of Marshall and Stanford.

Tennessee, the No. 1 team in the initial rankings, dropped out of the top four following a loss at Georgia that wasn’t nearly as close as the 27-13 final score suggests. The Volunteers are still in strong position to make the playoff as an 11-1 team, but for now, they’re technically on the outside looking in.

There was some debate about which Big Ten powerhouse should earn the No. 2 spot behind Georgia, but considering the committee’s preference for Ohio State in the first rankings, as well as the Buckeyes’ larger margins of victory against common opponents, it’s no surprise to see Michigan sitting at No. 3.

Here’s the full top 25:

  1. Georgia
  2. Ohio State
  3. Michigan
  4. TCU
  5. Tennessee
  6. Oregon
  7. LSU
  8. USC
  9. Alabama
  10. Clemson
  11. Ole Miss
  12. UCLA
  13. Utah
  14. Penn State
  15. North Carolina
  16. N.C. State
  17. Tulane
  18. Texas
  19. Kansas State
  20. Notre Dame
  21. Illinois
  22. UCF
  23. Florida State
  24. Kentucky
  25. Washington

About the Author

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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