Top 10 College Football Playoff contenders after Week 9

4. Michigan

As far as Michigan is concerned, the Wolverines are like Clemson and TCU — if they win, they are in. However, with a loss, I don’t see Michigan football making the College Football Playoff.

Now, if U-M drops a game to Illinois, then turns around and beats Ohio State, and then the Illini in the Big Ten title game that could be a different story. But anything short of a Big Ten title and Michigan isn’t going to the playoff.

The non-conference schedule didn’t help at all. Georgia has a shot if it doesn’t win the SEC just because of its win over Oregon and maybe a win over Tennessee. That’s a much better resume than Michigan, which only has a win over Penn State to hang its hat on.

3. Ohio State

Much like Michigan, I don’t see the Buckeyes advancing to the College Football Playoff unless they win the Big Ten championship. The win over Notre Dame looks decent and if the Irish upset Clemson, it would look even better.

But the only way a one-loss Ohio State team makes the playoff is with a ton of chaos. Just like Michigan, it has a better shot as a one-loss conference champion, but it’s hard to see that happening when that one loss is likely to Michigan and that would mean no Big Ten title.

The Wolverines and Buckeyes just won’t have resumes worthy of being a playoff team without beating each other, so that’s why only one is going to make the College Football Playoff.

There just isn’t a realistic scenario that sees two Big Ten teams making the field.