STATE COLLEGE, Penn. — Just as Baylor was finishing off its win over Oklahoma on the plains of Texas, virtually all but knocking the Sooners from the College Football Playoff picture, another upset was brewing among the mountains of Pennsylvania.
In front of more than 100,000 here at Happy Valley, amid freezing temperatures, 30 miles per hour wind gusts and light flurries of snow, another CFP candidate found itself on the verge of elimination. Less than four minutes from playoff extinction, Michigan, down 17–14 and with already one loss this season, appeared toast.
After all, in years past, Jim Harbaugh’s squads normally folded in this scenario—on the road against a ranked team in a tight game.