Michigan football may not have played over the weekend, but its idle status helped with the College Football Playoff.

The Wolverines rose three spots in this week’s CFP ranking, to No. 18, setting the stage for a critical three-game stretch to close the regular season. They also moved up to 18th in the AP Top 25 and coaches’ polls this week.

Michigan (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) will play Northwestern in Chicago on Saturday, another opportunity to boost its resume. But most analysts believe the Wolverines must win out, beating Northwestern, Maryland and Ohio State to earn a berth in the 12-team playoff.

Speaking of Ohio State, the Buckeyes held on to their No. 1 spot in the CFP, mirroring their top status in the AP Top 25 and coaches’ polls over the weekend. Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama filled

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