According to his projections (subscription required) Michigan will play (and lose) the Big Ten to Penn State, but then will have a rematch in Ann Arbor with Ohio State. Per Connelly, Michigan will beat OSU for a fifth-straight time in November and make it six in December.

The first year of the 12-team college football playoffs was a massive success, with the Ohio State Buckeyes beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the championship game. The 2024 season didn’t have quite the same success for the Alabama Crimson Tide,

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) returns an interception during the second half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025. Ohio State won 28-14.