No. 18 Michigan had a hiatus from the College Football Playoff last season, but the Wolverines have made three of the last four -- including a 2023 national championship. Heading into the home stretch of the season, the program still has an outside shot to reach the postseason again.

Michigan got a boost in the second edition of the College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night.

Michigan football finds itself inside the CFP rankings, but still has a ways to go if it is going to make the postseason and not just a bowl game.

Hope College capped its regular season with a 63-6 win over Olivet on Saturday, securing the program’s second consecutive playoff berth and seventh overall. It’s the first time the Flying Dutchmen have reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

The 7-2 Michigan Wolverines are back in action this weekend when they head to Chicago's Wrigley Field to take on Northwestern. The Wolverines had this past week

Here’s how Michigan can sneak in. The Wolverines started the year off fairly slow as true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood was still trying to find his legs in the world of college football. Michigan then went on the road for an old-fashioned battle with a rising Nebraska team.

The No. 18 Michigan Wolverines, led by quarterback Bryce Underwood, face the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill.

When do the new CFP rankings come out? Here's what to know as College Football Playoff bracket starts to take shape.

No. 14 Vanderbilt (8-2): Diego Pavia and the Commodores are still alive, but Oklahoma beating Alabama complicated their path. To make a case as a two-loss SEC contender, Vanderbilt must win out against Kentucky and at Tennessee -- otherwise, their playoff hopes are over.