In the preseason, Michigan received just 12 AP Top 25 votes. There were 5 Big Ten teams in that preseason AP poll, including an Indiana team that finished 2-10. There were also 5 Big Ten sides in the preseason AFCA Coaches Poll, none of them Michigan. Indiana was there again. Northwestern, which finished 3-9, got more votes than Michigan from the coaches. The Wolverines got nearly as many votes as UCF.

Good thing we play the games.

The Wolverines found out on Selection Sunday they’re playing in the College Football Playoff for the first time. After a 42-3 win over Iowa Saturday night to claim the program’s first Big Ten title since 2004, Michigan earned the No. 2 seed in the CFP. In doing so, it became the first team to make the Playoff field after opening the year unranked in the preseason poll.

The Wolverines will play No. 3 Georgia (12-1) in the Capital One Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve. A win will get them to the National Championship Game to face the winner of Alabama and Cincinnati. Michigan will be playing for the program’s first national title since 1997.

The dream season continues.