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ESPN staff
For the first time in 2022, ESPN writers have a unanimous top 4 to make the college football playoffs.
Third-ranked Michigan made the biggest statement, turning a three-point deficit into a 45-23 loss at halftime against No. 2 Ohio State. Michigan rushed for 242 yards in the second half, mostly behind Donovan Edwards’ touchdown runs of 75 and 85 yards. Edwards finished with 216 rushing yards, the second-highest rushing yardage by a Michigan player against Ohio State of all time (Tim Biakabutuka had 313 yards in 1995).
Combined with quarterback JJ McCarthy’s three long touchdown passes, Michigan had five scores of 45+ yards. That’s the highest score by a team in a single game against an AP top-five opponent since at least 2004.
Elsewhere, USC pushed into the playoff discussion with a 38-27 win over No. 15 Notre Dame. Caleb Williams became the first USC quarterback in 25 years with three rushing touchdowns in a game.
Meanwhile, leaders Georgia and No. 4 TCU rode to victories over Georgia Tech and Iowa State, respectively.
Georgia was the first school with consecutive 12-0 starts since Clemson in 2018-19 and the first SEC program since Alabama in 2008-09.
TCU had their third 12-0 start in school history and became only the seventh Big 12 team to reach the mark and the first since Texas in 2009.
With that in mind, here’s how ESPN’s college football reporters view the current playoff picture.
Andrea Adelson: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Blake Baumgartner: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Bill Connelly: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Heather Dinich: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
David Hale: 1st Michigan 2nd Georgia 3rd TCU 4th USC
Chris Low: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Harry Lyles Jr.: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Ryan McGee: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd USC 4th TCU
Adam Rittenberg: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Alex Scarborough: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Markus Schlabach: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Paolo Uggetti: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
Tom Van Haaren: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC
David Wilson: 1st Georgia 2nd Michigan 3rd TCU 4th USC