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.

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.

We are one week away from seeing Michigan football take the field in the Big House. With Sherrone Moore landing Bryce Underwood -- along with one of the best re