In Sherrone Moore's first season coaching Michigan, the Wolverines end the season with an 8-5 record. But it wasn't all that bad. The Wolverines' offense was pretty inept for most of the season. But the Michigan defense continued to get better and the Wolverines beat all of their rivals,

Alabama football and its fans felt slighted after not making the College Football Playoff as a 9-3 SEC team, despite ugly losses to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt during the season. They were MAD mad about the perceived Alabama snub, and nonsensical talk of the Crimson Tide deserving a playoff spot continued through the first-round games.

The Buckeyes routed previously unbeaten Oregon in the Rose Bowl to set up a College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas.