3 takeaways from the first College Football Playoff rankings
Michigan scandal won’t impact College Football Playoff rankings
One of the big questions was whether or not the College Football Playoff selection committee was going to consider the NCAA investigation into Michigan football’s alleged sign-stealing operation.
Rival fans have been wanting the Big Ten to act. Others have been hoping that the NCAA will level some sort of death penalty. I highly doubt that will happen for in-person scouting, which is what the evidence suggests right now. It’s a level 2 violation.
CFP Chair Boo Corrigan asked about the committee's position on the Michigan sign-stealing probe: "That really wasn't part of any of the discussion."
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 31, 2023
But in terms of the 2023 season, it’s not likely that Michigan football gets any sort of punishment. The Big Ten isn’t going to act before the NCAA and the selection committee chairman, Boo Corrigan, said on Tuesday night that it’s the committee’s job to rank teams.
The whole thing has been overblown in my opinion. There will be some punishment and Connor Stalions will get a show-cause. Jim Harbaugh might even leave for the NFL rather than the eventual NCAA punishment, even if he does sign an extension.
That’s all impossible to predict. What’s not hard to predict is that if Michigan football wins out, it will be in the College Football Playoff.