The CFP committee was not surprised at how Michigan played against Ohio State

The College Football Playoff committee surprised many earlier this month when they placed Michigan in 6th place ahead of Michigan State in 7th place, even though the Wolverines lost one defeat to the Spartans.

CFP chairman Gary Barta said at the time that the committee considered Michigan to be a more complete team. This proved to be true – Michigan State lost to Ohio State 56-7 and ended the season 10-2, Michigan beat Ohio State 42-7 and finished its regular season 11-1.

Michigan is now ranked No. 2 in the latest Rankings in the College Football playoffs.

Wolverines ’convincing and often dominant victory against Buckeyes on Saturday came as no surprise to the committee – they have not wavered in their belief that Michigan is a good team in offense, defense and special teams.

“The committee has been referring to Michigan as a complete team for about three or four weeks now as we watched the team,” Barta said. “And I just think what the defense could do. (Aidan) Hutchinson (3 sacks), but not just him, but he had an incredible performance; they were able to put pressure on the Ohio State attack and really contain an incredibly explosive attack, both by feeding and running.”

Barta and the committee’s appreciation for Michigan goes back to what runner Hassan Haskins and the o-line were able to do against the state of Ohio – driving the ball down their throats. Michigan rushed for 297 yards – Haskins had 169 yards and 5 touchdowns. Michigan averaged 9.2 yards per transfer in the second half.

“For Haskins to do what he did and to be able to run the ball in difficult conditions, I would just say the committee wasn’t surprised by the way Michigan played – maybe, like everyone, a little surprised by the way the score ended. But just the perfect team. And that’s how the committee has known about Michigan for some time, ”Barta said.

The stage, a spectacle that was loud and snowy at Michigan Stadium during the game, also went unnoticed.

“They showed it in the championship environment,” Barta said. “I talked to Oklahoma about the state of Oklahoma. It was a playoff. It was definitely a playoff. And in an environment like that, Michigan showed that they could find a way to win and win convincingly against a really, really good, awesome Ohio State team.

The win keeps the hopes of the Michigan College Football Playoff alive, but to keep them alive, they have to win the Iowa Hawkeyes Big Ten Championship series on Saturday night in Indianapolis.