Michigan Wolverines fans are feeling like they got snubbed in the first college football rankings released this week.
Despite playing in the tougher conference (Big Ten) than the Clemson Tigers (ACC), it’s Clemson who ranks in the No. 4 spot, with Michigan checking in at No. 5.
Check out the full rankings that came out Tuesday:
THE TOP 25 CFP RANKINGS HAVE ARRIVED‼️ @Vol_Football leads the pack at No. 1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/7lj5qo00d3
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 1, 2022
Even though Clemson currently ranks below Michigan, both teams currently have the same odds at +1600 to win the National Championship, per DraftKings.
Check out the updated odds:
Both Michigan and Clemson sit at 8-0 on the season. However, it's likely that the Wolverines' weak non-conference schedule played a part in where they're slated heading into their ninth game. Michigan coasted in the first three weeks of the season against Colorado State, Hawaii and Connecticut respectively, none of which have any prowess as a football school.
That said, Clemson did not play a strong non-conference schedule either, and they've already been pushed to the brink in games against Syracuse, Wake Forest and Florida State.
"I think Michigan is one of the top four teams in the country and I would love to see a Michigan-Clemson game. I'd have a hard time picking against Michigan," On3 Sports analyst J.D. PicKell said.
Luckily for Michigan and Clemson, they both control their own destiny. Given that Tennessee and Georgia play each other this weekend, it's entirely possible that they'll both be in the College Football Playoff picture come this time next week.
Michigan will travel to Rutgers where they'll be heavy favorites on Saturday, while Clemson will play under the lights in South Bend on Saturday night against a Notre Dame team that has struggled to reach their usual standards through this point of the season.
The biggest worry Michigan fans should have is to figure out how they're going to go into Ohio State on November 26th and beat their bitter rivals for the second consecutive year. That game will likely decide who comes out of the Big Ten East for a chance to play in the championship. And if Michigan finishes the season with one loss, there's certainly no guarantee they'll join another Big Ten team in the playoff.
Michigan fans are probably right that they have a better team than Clemson, but they better hope the Tigers lose at some point before the committee chooses the playoff teams, or they might be on the outside looking in.
