College GameDay crew explains how Michigan, Ohio State could both get in CFP field even with a loss today

It’s the day of The Game between undefeated Michigan and undefeated Ohio State in Columbus on this chilly Saturday morning, with massive, national-championship-level stakes on the line. Oh, it’s as big as it gets. Perhaps the best rivalry game in College Football between two undefeated contenders at the tail end of the regular season. Winner goes to the Big Ten title game and almost certainly punches their ticket to the Playoff.

However, the College GameDay crew, who is on the OSU campus today, believes there’s a path to both of these Big Ten powers making the four-team playoff field. And no, World Cup fans, they don’t need to tie.

“To me, it becomes a discussion about the loser of this game and the ACC champion in Clemson, if they were to win out. So I don’t think the loser of this game — even though I like when the winner of a game advances and the loser’s out — but I think this year, depending on what happens behind them, I think they might still be in,” Kirk Herbstreit shared.

Then, David Pollack added that he thought Ohio State had the much stronger resume compared to Michigan.

“I think that there’s a lot stronger case, obviously, to be made for Ohio State than Michigan. Just because the out-of-conference schedule, you see that it does matter. Michigan played Colorado State, Hawaii and UCONN out of conference.”

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Then, Herbstreit posed the question to the crew whether a one-loss OSU or Michigan would earn a CFP spot over one-loss, ACC champion Clemson.

“Let’s say Michigan or Ohio State lose a close one and those teams behind — like USC and LSU — were to lose and Clemson wins the ACC championship. Between them and the loser of this game, who do you think would get the nod?”

Howard answered: “If Michigan won, I would say I’d still pick Ohio State. I think Ohio State is the better team. Without a doubt. 100%.”

Then came McAfee’s odd response: “If Ohio State loses, which nobody wants to hear, with the amount of weapons they have, wonder if you start stacking up the weapons this Ohio State team has, in conversation, you can see how football judgment could put the Ohio State team in even with a loss.”

A lot of ways the ball can bounce in the aftermath of the Buckeyes vs. Wolverines, according to the College GameDay crew.