1. Michigan
Michigan is built to win games and dominate in the second half. Even with their leader, Blake Corum, sidelined for the season, they’ve proven that their offensive line and cohesive defense can give them a chance against anybody. JJ McCarthy is beginning to heat up at the right time and Donovan Edwards looks like a potential 2023 Heisman candidate with the way he has been running the ball. The Wolverines matchup against TCU in the College Football Playoff semi-finals.
2. Georgia
The Bulldogs have made a living dominating powerful SEC opponents. Their latest victim came in the shape of the LSU tigers in the SEC Championship game. The defending National Champs are currently sitting atop College Football Rankings and probably should have been number 1 here too (but this is a Michigan blog… What do you expect from me). Georgia prepares for a power Ohio St offense that watched championship weekend from home, and the winner will move on to the National Championship game in LA.
3. TCU
The Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University lost their first game of the season against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game, but they may have actually improved their stock in doing so. While losing certainly opened them up to criticism, Max Duggan’s heroics and the teams’ overall toughness in overtime proved that they are a force to be reckoned with. TCU will matchup against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.
4. Ohio St
Ohio St once again benefitted from a conference championship game, but this time around it was the fact that they didn’t play in one that helped. Had USC chosen to bypass playing in the Pac-12 Championship game, we probably would be talking about them right now. But the Trojans fell to Utah for the second time this year, and the Buckeyes moved into the top-4 by default. While they are happy to have a second chance, they have their work cut out for them, facing the defending National Champion Georgia Bulldogs.
5. Penn St
Some people might take issue with Penn St being in 5 spot, but they have as good of an argument as anyone to be sitting here. Penn St’s only 2 losses of the season came against Michigan and Ohio St, and they were in a position to beat Ohio St until late in that game. Many would argue that Tennessee and Alabama have better wins (which is true), but the Nittany Lions easily took care of every other team on their schedule.
