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College Football Playoff and NY6 bowl projections for Week 13

By Michael Thompson

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans hugs Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. The USC Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins with a score of 48 to 45. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans hugs Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. The USC Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins with a score of 48 to 45. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 19: Jake Moody #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his game winning field goal with J.J. McCarthy #9 to beat the Illinois Fighting Illini 19-17 at Michigan Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 19: Jake Moody #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his game winning field goal with J.J. McCarthy #9 to beat the Illinois Fighting Illini 19-17 at Michigan Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Rose Bowl: Washington vs. Michigan 

Previous: Oregon vs. Penn State

A lot can change, when nothing really changes. Last week, we predicted Oregon and Penn State to meet up in the Rose Bowl. Both teams won, and yet we’ve replaced them both — what happened?

This new projection says more about the teams around them than these teams themselves. Oregon finally slayed their rival Utah, and now are facing a two-week stretch where they go to Oregon State and could play USC for the conference championship, a likely playoff berth on the line for USC. Penn State had been hoping for a Big Ten invasion in the playoff that would see both Ohio State and Michigan making the final four. That looks less likely now after USC and TCU survived scares.

Out are Oregon and Penn State, and in are Washington and Michigan.

The Huskies continue to be one of the hottest teams in the country, rolling all over Colorado 54-7. While a path to playing in the conference championship looks slim, the Huskies appear to be in prime position to take the Pac-12 slot in the Rose Bowl if USC makes the playoff, assuming USC beats Oregon in Vegas.

Michigan, one of the best teams in the country, is heading to Ohio State looking like Blake Corum, their best player and Heisman contender, will be out. It appears to be shaping up for an Ohio State win that should eliminate any thoughts about Michigan still finding a way to sneak into the playoff. They’d likely need TCU and USC to lose.

It’s possible, but for now, we project a fantastic Rose Bowl for two teams that have gone a long time since their last NY6 bowl victory.

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