Michigan football has said it's in playoff mode for weeks, if not months. Those dreams are now dashed after falling to OSU, 27-9. So now what?

A win over Pittsburgh coupled with losses by Virginia (to Virginia Tech) and SMU (to California) clinches an appearance in the ACC title game. Then, a win in that one on Dec. 6 would push Miami to, at worst, the No. 11 seed in the final bracket.

In the evening, No. 10 Alabama got all it could handle from Auburn in the Iron Bowl before escaping with a win and keeping its College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Crimson Tide will meet Georgia in the SEC title game next weekend. Here's how everything played out on the final Saturday of the regular season:

The playoff race has reached its most intense point. Every week now carries real weight. One strong game can lift a team back into the picture. One mistake can shut the door for good. Fans are watching every score and every ranking shift.

The fourth College Football Playoff rankings are out with the 12-team field remaining in place despite some adjustments to the top 25

The College Football Playoff selection committee revealed its third set of rankings on Tuesday evening on ESPN, with the 9-2 Michigan Wolverines checking in at

We're more than two weeks away from the final College Football Playoff rankings reveal on Dec. 7, and the Michigan Wolverines are still in the conversation. At 8-2, the Wolverines are ranked at No. 18 in the most recent College Football Playoff ranking,

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Michigan State Spartans vs. Maryland Terrapins game, Saturday, Nov. 29.

Utah, Vanderbilt, Michigan and Texas are the next four teams in the rankings, hoping things break their way over the next two weekends to steal bids. Some of these programs can still win conference championships and land automatic bids to the field.

Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin highlights the best and worst performances from Michigan football’s 27-9 loss to Ohio State.