Michigan rises in College Football Playoff poll ahead of Big Ten title game

The Michigan football team will enter Saturday’s Big Ten championship game as the No. 2 team in the country.

The Wolverines jumped one spot in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, up from No. 3 following a 30-24 win over Ohio State.

That sets up No. 2 Michigan against No. 16 Iowa on Saturday in Indianapolis (8 p.m., FOX), with Jim Harbaugh’s team one win away from solidifying a spot in the four-team playoff.

Georgia remains No. 1 ahead of its showdown with Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship, also set for Saturday. Washington also moved up one spot, to No. 3. Florida State also jumped back into the top four at No. 4.

On the outside looking in are Oregon (No. 5), Ohio State (6), Texas (7) and Alabama (8). The Buckeyes are the only team in that group idle this weekend, with Oregon set to play Washington for the Pac-12 championship on Friday night, Texas to play Oklahoma State for the Big 12 championship and Alabama set to play Georgia in the SEC title game.

Check out the full #CFBPlayoff Top 25 for games played through Saturday, November 25.

Where does your team rank as we head toward conference championship weekend and Selection Day?

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— College Football Playoff November 29, 2023

Missouri and Penn State round out the top 10 at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively. Neither team plays this weekend, effectively killing their playoff hopes.

The final CFP rankings are set for noon on Sunday, when semifinal matchups for the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl are set. The No. 1 team will get its preference of site.

Michigan (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) has never been the No. 1 team in the CFP era, and only been No. 2 on five separate occasions. A win over the Hawkeyes on Saturday and a Georgia loss could change that, adding another wrinkle to what has been a wildly successful season for the Wolverines.

The change in standing brought the CFP poll in line with the AP Top 25 and US LBM coaches’ polls, both of which also moved Michigan up to No. 2 this week.