The ratings and projection from Ford are based on the schedule difficulty, essentially stating a team with a higher schedule difficulty needs a lower number of wins to reach the College Football Playoff. Ford has Michigan State having the No. 18 most difficult schedule in the country.

Here's a look at six players who hope to use the CFP as a springboard for even bigger things during the 2025 season. The challenge for Greathouse in 2024 wasn't necessarily physical or even maintaining his confidence.

Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia goes through the Michigan football schedule game by game to determine if U-M can return to the CFP.