The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a tough 13-6 overtime loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. The defeat handed Michigan its third loss of the season and dealt a major blow to its chances of making the College Football Playoff.

Kyle Whittingham’s first year at Michigan hasn’t gone as planned. Quarterback struggles with Bryce Underwood have been a main talking point, and this Wolverines roster isn’t as talented as it has been in the past. Still, Michigan has a very small chance to sneak into the College Football Playoff, and the biggest factor it controls is winning out.

Michigan has to win out to have any chance

The path starts with Rutgers in Week 9. From there, Michigan has to follow it up with wins over Michigan State, Oregon, UCLA, and Ohio State to close the regular season.

Michigan’s  final two games come against opponents with a combined record of 13-1, and the regular-season finale will be played on the road in Columbus against the Buckeyes.

The A to Z Sports College Football Playoff Predictor gives the Wolverines just under a 1 percent chance to make the field right now. Winning out alone would raise that number to 19 percent. That’s a significant jump, but Michigan is still going to need plenty of outside help along the way.

Week 9 rooting guide for Michigan fans

This week’s rooting guide for the Wolverines centers on improving their strength of schedule. Michigan needs its best win to look better and its losses to look less damaging.

Michigan’s best win of the season came in Week 2, when it beat the Oklahoma Sooners 17-10. Wolverines fans should be pulling for Oklahoma to protect its home field against South Carolina this weekend. Every win the Sooners stack up makes that early-season victory carry more weight with the committee.

Iowa is now the best loss on Michigan’s resume. The Hawkeyes are 5-2 and ranked, and they host a ranked Wisconsin team this weekend. Michigan fans should be rooting for Iowa to take care of business at home, because another quality win for the Hawkeyes would make that loss sting a little less.

Additionally, the Week 6 loss to Minnesota is one that sticks out as a rough one. The Golden Gophers are 5-2 but unranked, and they head on the road this weekend to face the Indiana Hoosiers. It’s a big opportunity for Minnesota, and Wolverines fans will be hoping for an upset. A road win over Indiana would make the loss to Minnesota look a lot more respectable when the committee evaluates Michigan’s body of work.

Michigan’s focus is on Rutgers and Michigan State

Outside help is only part of the equation. The biggest thing Michigan can do is control what it can control, and that means winning the games on its own schedule.

Beating Rutgers this weekend and then Michigan State next weekend are the two most immediate tasks for the Wolverines. A slip in either game would end any playoff conversation before Oregon, UCLA, and Ohio State even arrive on the schedule.

The odds are long for Whittingham’s team. Taking care of the next two weeks keeps the door cracked open, and the rest of the November slate will show whether there’s anything left to play for.