Not even a month ago, CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford expected Michigan football to make the College Football Playoff in Kyle Whittingham’s first year. Less than a month later, with essentially no changes having occurred across the sport, no longer.
Now that he’s had nearly a month since his February 3 article, Crawford has decided to have USC take the Wolverines‘ place in the 12-team playoff, and has now relegated the maize and blue to the same bowl game they played in a year ago — against what’s becoming a familiar foe.
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Crawford, in his too-early bowl game predictions, has now tabbed Michigan to face Alabama, yet again, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl — another yet again.
Citrus Bowl
The pick: Alabama vs. Michigan
Taking the field with a new offense in 2026, Alabama has more questions than answers at this time. Kalen DeBoer faces pressure to win big in his third campaign, and the Crimson Tide should be one of a couple SEC teams vying for the league’s fourth — and we project, final — spot in the playoff. The Wolverines played in Orlando during last year’s postseason but should be the Citrus Bowl’s prime selection once again as the Big Ten’s highest-ranked team not in the CFP.
In fairness to Crawford, Michigan has an awfully daunting schedule, featuring games against projected top 25 teams like Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, and fringe team Penn State. The first two of those matchups are on the road, but last month, Crawford had projected that Michigan would win at least three of the aforementioned six. USC’s schedule isn’t quite as difficult, but it does still face Oregon, Penn State, Washington, Ohio State, and Indiana — but has a much easier nonconference slate. However, should the Wolverines beat Oklahoma in Week 2, certainly many will start changing their calculus.
The maize and blue have played Alabama twice in three years — in the January 1, 2024 Rose Bowl and the December 31, 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl. The Wolverines won both games, with the latter appearing to be as big of an upset as perhaps Michigan’s win over OSU to close the 2024 regular season. The Wolverines also played in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl this past New Year’s Eve, losing to Texas after a fourth-quarter offensive implosion and a series of defensive lapses.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football: Playoff hopes dim in too-early CBS Sports prediction
