Sugar Bowl (January 1): No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Oregon
Rose Bowl (January 1): No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Florida State
A handful of major developments will be talked about in the buildup to Ohio State-Michigan in regards to the CFB Playoff.
Ohio State jumped Michigan by one spot in the latest AP Top 25, but that change does not mean anything except for the numbers next to both teams' names on the scoreboard.
The Ohio State-Michigan winner will still have a wide-open pathway to the playoff as the Big Ten champion. The Buckeyes and Wolverines are both expected to beat the Iowa Hawkeyes next week.
Michigan did not have a great performance against the Maryland Terrapins in Week 12, but it has still been more consistent than Ohio State, who also faced some difficulties against the Terps before pulling away in the second half.
Michigan's ground game, led by Blake Corum, was the difference in the last two meetings with Ohio State. The Buckeyes have to prove they can stop Michigan on the ground to swing the rivalry back in their favor and land in the playoff.
Florida State's loss of quarterback Jordan Travis significantly decreased its chances to win the playoff, but it can still reach the final four with wins over the Florida Gators and then against the Louisville Cardinals in the ACC Championship Game.
The Pac-12 champion will hold the fourth playoff spot if Georgia and Florida State win out and no upsets occur in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Washington found itself in the national headlines for its Saturday win over the Oregon State Beavers, but it is not playing as well as Oregon.
The Ducks won five straight games by nine or more points and their defense held three of their last four foes under 20 points.
Oregon limited Michael Penix Jr. for parts of its head-to-head meeting with Washington and it could do the same in the Pac-12 Championship Game in two weeks. The Ducks need to beat Oregon State to set up the rematch.
