Projected College Football Playoff picture after Week 7

Michigan will almost certainly be heading into The Horseshoe date undefeated

Weak schedule be damned, Michigan is still one of the best teams in the country and should have every reason to believe the Wolverines can make it back to the College Football Playoff this season. They are 7-0 and just obliterated a former top-10 opponent in division rival Penn State. Barring a potential slip-up in Week 12 vs. Illinois, Michigan will get to The Horseshoe undefeated.

The winner of Michigan at Ohio State will be the presumptive favorite to win the Big Ten this year and earn a top-two seed into the College Football Playoff should it take care of business over in all likelihood Illinois in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Michigan has had a miserable time for the better part of this century vs. Ohio State, and especially in Columbus. For now, they crack the top four.

The more Michigan keeps on winning games, the more likely they will have a shot at repeating.

Tennessee has the best win on the season, but they still have a tough schedule

Rocky Top could not have asked for a better start to the season. The Tennessee Volunteers are 6-0 and just won the Third Saturday in October for the first time in 16 years over cross-divisional rival Alabama. It was the biggest win of the season for any college program. Tennessee has every reason to believe it can make the playoff for the first time. However, it has a hard remaining slate.

After getting to 7-0 with a home win over UT-Martin next Saturday, the Vols have to play division rivals Kentucky and Georgia back-to-back. While Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt are not on the ‘Cats or Dawgs’ level, all three will be gunning to spoil Tennessee’s amazing season. If they beat Georgia and go 11-1 (7-1) or better, they should face either Alabama or Ole Miss in Atlanta.

Tennessee has earned its inclusion, but it has to beat Alabama, Georgia and maybe Alabama again.