The Michigan Wolverines still have a path forward to the Big Ten Championship game in December. They just have to take it one game at a time.
With three weeks to go, the Wolverines (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) have everything in front of them not only to exceed expectations in Bryce Underwood's first season, but to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff in the process.
College football podcast host Josh Pate said he has liked what he has seen from the Wolverines so far, while smartly noting the margin for error down the stretch is zero.
"Sneaky, sneaky team right now,” Pate said. “If you don’t believe me, let me just float this out there to you. Michigan is at 18 (in the AP Poll). You know they still got the Ohio State game coming up. Michigan is a two-loss team, right, so you kind of dismiss them when you talk about the Big Ten. It’s all Ohio State-Indiana, Ohio State-Indiana, maybe Oregon."
Where the Wolverines could fall into title contention is an unfathomable tiebreaker scenario, where, if their cards are played right, they would be playing for the conference title in Indianapolis.
“What happens if they beat Ohio State, and they are a one-loss Big Ten team with a head-to-head tiebreaker over Ohio State? Who’s going to Indianapolis? Has anyone even considered this? Or are we slipping into this coma again, where, since we think Ohio State is the better team and they’ll be a big point spread favorite, we’re just going to, like, project them past Michigan? I’ve done that the past four years! I cannot allow myself to slip into that coma for a fifth consecutive year.”
The Wolverines nearly caused chaos at season's end with an upset of the Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) this past season in Columbus, which was a near doomsday disaster for coach Ryan Day.
Nonetheless, though, Pate said it would be a mistake to suggest the Buckeyes' possible victory over the Wolverines is a forgone conclusion.
"We have to consider this as a possibility,” Pate added.
"The Game" is in 18 days, meaning there is still ample time for storylines to become reality.
For now, though, the dust must be settled on the field.