Michigan football has best possible path to a national championship

Since the start of the 2021 season, Michigan football has been on an absolute tear. Over the past 27 games, the Wolverines are 25-2 with two Big Ten Championships, two wins over Ohio State, and two CFP bids.

As Championship Weekend came to a close, Michigan was one of two remaining undefeated teams in the nation. The Wolverines walked through the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record before running over Purdue in the Big Ten title game.

Michigan has a handful of impressive wins this year, though because of its weak non-conference schedule, the Wolverines’ only big wins are against Big Ten opponents. In mid-October, Michigan ran over No. 10 Penn State (now 10-2 and headed to the Rose Bowl) by a score of 41-17.

At season’s end, the Wolverines took on No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus and ran away with another massive win. Michigan’s 45-23 win over the Buckeyes is one of the most one-sided performances the rivalry has ever seen in ‘The Shoe.’

Michigan beat Purdue — the Big Ten West champion — 43-22 in the conference title game to bring home its second straight conference championship.

Due to USC being upset in the Pac-12 title game, TCU being concerned in the Big 12 Championship Game, and Georgia beating LSU to win the SEC, Michigan football remained at No. 2 heading into the College Football Playoff.

Despite not getting the No. 1 seed, the Wolverines still secured the best spot in the playoff.

Who is in, and who is out?

The 2022 and 2023 seasons will be the final two years of the four-team College Football Playoff. For the second straight season, Michigan is heading into the playoff as the No. 2 team in the country after winning the Big Ten in blowout fashion.

Last year, Georgia lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, which sent them down to No. 3 and gave Alabama the No. 1 seed. That meant that, despite being No. 2 in the country, Michigan football had to take on Georgia in the Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal). The Bulldogs went on to bully Michigan in the semifinal and Alabama in the National Championship game.

This year, the Wolverines got the opposite draw. Since USC lost to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship, No. 1 Georgia (13-0, 9-0 SEC) will take on No. 4 Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) in the Peach Bowl. I’d say Ohio State is one of the most dangerous teams in the nation, and UGA got a tough matchup in the semi-final round.

On the other hand, Michigan got a Fiesta Bowl bid against Texas Christian University. The Horned Frogs are 12-1 and likely the worst team in the CFP this year, so Michigan football fans should be pretty happy about this year’s matchup.

Michigan football has easiest path to a National Championship

Since the Wolverines got the best draw in the CFP rankings, Michigan football will have the easiest path to winning a national championship. The last time Michigan won a title was in 1997 under former head coach Lloyd Carr.

Now, the Wolverines have their best chance in 25 years. Michigan football is currently favored to win the Fiesta Bowl by more than a touchdown. They will play Ohio State or Georgia in the National Championship game if that happens.

Playing Ohio State again (with higher stakes) will be incredibly difficult, but as we have already seen, the Wolverines can float the Buckeyes. Georgia is the best team in the CFP this year but looks far more human than it did a year ago. Unlike in 2021, Michigan football could beat the Bulldogs this season.

A national championship would cement Jim Harbaugh as one of the greatest Michigan football coaches of all time and bring the program back to national prominence. The Wolverines are already viewed as one of the top teams nationally, but winning a title would put Michigan on an entirely new level.