The Victors

This loss hurts, and the reality is that Michigan pretty much has to win seven of our next eight games just to squeeze into the College Football Playoff. Navigating Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and Indiana will be brutal, and playing UCLA or traveling to Minnesota are far from guaranteed victories. While this roster clearly has some talent, it's held back by glaring discipline issues. Ironically, we could finish 8-4 and still be a genuinely good football team—the kind capable of making serious noise in a hypothetical 24-team playoff. Of course, a 24-team playoff field would absolutely suck. right? Better to play Texas in a meaningful September game than an unsatisfying CFP game. right?

Looking at the big picture, our schedule remains very hard through 2026 and 2027. I hope the critics calling for Kyle Whittingham's head realize that they are just reacting to the immediate sting of a loss. I wasn’t high on Whittingham; it felt like a desperate, flawed choice, but it was arguably the best move available given the hand we were dealt. Starting a wave of toxic, negative sentiment this early won't fix anything.

Ultimately, if the NIL money is there, Michigan will be fine. We will never be a top-eightish spender, but my greatest fear is watching us slide from a respectable second-tier spender (9th to 15th) down into the third tier (16th to 24th). If we can't remain competitive financially, no amount of "Michigan Man" nostalgia or "Leaders and Best" branding is going to save us. We know this.

If we can stay close to the spending of the top programs, we'll survive over time. In fact, the fear of slipping down the financial food chain is why I want a 24-team playoff. That, and I'd much rather play Texas in a high-stakes playoff elimination game than a September vanity affair. I'm just being selfish. Those potential playoff blowouts will be a burden on CFB fans. More CFB games are a bad thing, right? right? Especially if they directly mean something.