MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 03: Michigan Wolverines linebacker Nathaniel Staehling (44) looks on during the first half to the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on October 3rd, 2026, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 03: Michigan Wolverines linebacker Nathaniel Staehling (44) looks on during the first half to the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on October 3rd, 2026, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images · Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Just like that, Michigan’s College Football Playoff hopes have vanished.

After Saturday’s disheartening loss at Minnesota, Michigan Football plummeted in ESPN’s FPI Rankings, dropping to 32nd in the nation with a meager score of 10.6.

Suddenly, the Wolverines are more on track for a .500 season than any of our eight-win or nine-win preseason hopes, having a projected win-loss record of 6.1-5.9.

To make matters worse, the FPI gives them about a 70 percent chance of hitting that six-win mark to qualify for a bowl game and those once optimistic Playoff hopes are now under 0.5% percent.

Still left on Michigan’s schedule are No. 1 Ohio State (28.8), No. 7 Indiana (25.5), No. 9 Oregon (21.6) and No. 20 Penn State (13.7). It’s not officially over, but it is hard to imagine this 2026 group climbing out of this hole.

Is there any positive spin on Saturday? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Yahoo Sports