Michigan football's College Football Playoff rooting guide: Week 11

Michigan football ranked 3rd in the latest edition of the College Football Playoff ranking released this week, solidifying its claim to national title contender status. There is still a lot to sort out over the next few weeks, though.

Michigan has to take of its business on the field – and against Nebraska, it should do so emphatically – to stay in the CFP conversation. The Wolverines appear to be on a warpath ahead of the Nov. 26 game at Ohio State, making the Big Ten East clash a pseudo-playoff game in its own right.

If Michigan wins the games on the schedule (Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio State, Big Ten title), it will be in the playoff. That is the “easiest” path. Anything less is going to require help elsewhere.

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U-M would rather earn its way in, but the reality of the situation is their case could be strengthened by what happens around them in the rankings.

Here is who fans should be rooting against this week.

Michigan football CFP rooting guide: Week 11

Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State (-40, o/u 61.5), 12 p.m., FOX

Root for: Indiana

Once again, nobody will ever argue against rooting against the Buckeyes. This is a big spread, but Indiana finding a way to make things competitive could strengthen U-M’s claim to the 2-seed. Michigan and OSU will settle it on the field on Nov. 26.

Missouri at No. 5 Tennessee (-19.5, o/u 57), 12 p.m., CBS

Root for: Missouri

Wishful thinking here with some of the bigger upsets, but Tennessee is going to linger in the conversation as long as it has one loss. There is a good chance the U-M/OSU loser is out and Tennessee is in. Better to just get the Vols out now.

No. 7 LSU at Arkansas (+3.5, o/u 60.5), 12 p.m., ESPN

Root for: Arkansas

There are already talking heads trying to map LSU’s path to the playoff with 2 losses. If it wins out and beats Georgia in the SEC title game, it will have a case to be made. But this feels like a letdown spot for the Tigers.

Purdue at No. 21 Illinois (-6.5, o/u 44.5), 12 p.m., ESPN2

Root for: Illinois

Michigan needs Illinois to be a resume win, so the Illini taking care of business on Saturday would be huge heading into next week’s game. It also makes it likely they will represent the Big Ten West in Indianapolis.

No. 9 Alabama at No. 11 Ole Miss (+11, o/u 65), 3:30 p.m., CBS

Root for: Ole Miss

Alabama is not truly dead yet, but a loss to Ole Miss would just about do it. We can deal with the conversation about how LSU and Ole Miss both sneak into the playoff with Georgia and Tennessee next week. One week at a time.

Maryland at No. 14 Penn State (-10.5, o/u 57), 3:30 p.m., FOX

Root for: Penn State

Similar to the Illinois game, Michigan needs Penn State to keep winning to boost the impressions of the blowout win in Ann Arbor a few weeks back. A competitive game probably helps how the Maryland game is perceived, too.

No. 1 Georgia at Mississippi State (+16.5, o/u 52), 7 p.m., ESPN

Root for: Mississippi State

This is likely slim, but any sort of slipup from Georgia helps everyone out and cracks the door open for the top seed to come out of the Big Ten. Georgia holding onto the 1-seed is a surefire lock to have them essentially host a playoff game at the Peach Bowl.

No. 25 Washington at No. 6 Oregon (-12, o/u 72.5), 7 p.m., FOX

Root for: Washington

Oregon is right there on everyone’s heels right now and might have the best “loss” of the country to Georgia, along with Tennessee. The Pac-12 has a real shot to sneak in to the CFP, but a loss here helps Michigan’s chances of getting in as a one-loss team.

No. 4 TCU at No. 18 Texas (-7, o/u 65), 7:30 p.m., ABC

Root for: Texas

The same scenario applies as above. A TCU loss will slide Tennessee back into the 4-seed. But does open the door to a 1-loss Michigan path to the playoff.

What’s next for U-M

Michigan plays a 3:30 game on ABC against Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor before hosting Illinois on Senior Day on Nov. 19. Kickoff has not been set for the Illinois game, but it will be broadcast on ABC.