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CFP Rankings Projections, Week 12: Did Ohio State do enough to jump Oregon?

By Connor Muldowney

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) scores a 51-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.Purdue Boilermakers At Ohio State Buckeyes Football
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) scores a 51-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.Purdue Boilermakers At Ohio State Buckeyes Football /
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Nov 13, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Erick All (83) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Michigan defeated Penn State 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Erick All (83) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Michigan defeated Penn State 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan probably did enough to move up a spot in Week 12, beating a solid Penn State team on the road. The Wolverines were in control for most of the game, holding a 7-6 lead at halftime and then added a touchdown early in the third quarter to make it 14-6, but a late surge by Penn State nearly cost Michigan a win.

The Nittany Lions put a scare into Michigan and it felt like another choke-away win like the Wolverines had at Michigan a couple of weeks ago, but Penn State’s 11-0 run was quickly put to bed by a Cade McNamara touchdown pass to Erik All who took a short pass and turned it into an impressive catch and run score.

With the win, Michigan is likely to move up a spot in the rankings because I believe a four-point win in Happy Valley is far more impressive than a 17-point win against South Florida on the road. The committee will likely agree here.

Now the only major issue is that Michigan would be two spots ahead of a Michigan State team that beat it on Oct. 30 and that might not be completely justified.

It will all work itself out, though.

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