CBS Sports optimistic about Michigan football, but still underrating the Wolverines
Not many have a lot of faith in Michigan football entering 2025 while many have a ton of optimism as it pertains to Ohio State this season. Of course, the Wolverines went 8-5 last year while the Buckeyes won the national championship, but OSU is in a similar (albeit more advantageous) position to the Wolverines coming out of the 2023 national championship season. Ohio State lost much of its offense and defense with 14 NFL draft picks, its starting quarterback, and both coordinators -- not dissimilar from Michigan. But the Wolverines are rebuilding and still managed to beat OSU and Alabama despite having major offensive deficiencies.
Those deficiencies appear to be fixed with Bryce Underwood coming in, along with Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene. Thus, CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli is optimistic that Michigan could be good, but not as good as the Buckeyes, according to his Big Ten power rankings.
4. Michigan
Think of how horrible things went for the Wolverines last season. The offense was a cruel joke, and the QB situation was enough to make a MAC team blush. Yet, despite all of it, the Wolverines won eight games, including wins over Ohio State and Alabama. Yes, the team loses some studs on defense, but if the offense improves and the defense retools successfully, how far away is this team from winning 10 or more games?
Advertisement
With Michigan at No. 4, it is behind OSU at No. 1, Penn State at No. 2, and Oregon at No. 3. Though Fornelli is correct that Michigan loses some key playmakers on defense, the depth behind Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, and Will Johnson indicate that the Wolverines may not miss a beat. The defensive line, in particular, has a six-man rotation on the interior with two star transfers, while the edge group dominated the Crimson Tide, as is, in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.
The question for Michigan comes more on the offensive side of the ball with several big unknowns. Though the pass game should improve, it's hard to quantify by how much -- especially considering there has only been a modicum of improvement at wide receiver and offensive line. Still, if the offense can at least sustain some drives, the entire team should look vastly different.
What Fornelli also fails to recognize is that Michigan avoids his No. 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 teams according to his rankings. The Wolverines face his No. 1 Ohio State, No. 8 USC, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 10 Washington, No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 15 MSU, No. 16 Northwestern, No. 17 Maryland, and No. 18 Purdue -- the worst teams in the conference, at least according to him. Thus, 10 wins are certainly on the table this year.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: CBS Big Ten power rankings high on Michigan, but still underrating it
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
34 minutes ago
- CBS News
Fowler, Morikawa and Bradley share course expectations ahead of 2025 Rocket Classic
Many of the PGA's top golfers are already in Detroit for Wednesday's Pro Am ahead of the 2025 Rocket Classic. The field might be the tournament's strongest one yet, featuring regulars like Cam Davis and Ricky Fowler, as well as the 2025 Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley. Bradley admits this tournament is all about late-round drama. To get to that point, these pros will have to take advantage of a soft course in Round 1 on Thursday to get ahead of this relatively crowded field. "Coming off a couple weeks where you have Oakmont. Very, very challenging, to an old school golf course where you're going to have to make some birdies. It's exciting," said 2023 runner-up Collin Morikawa. Like most years, Bradley says he expects the 2025 Rocket Classic to be a low-scoring fight that will remain close through Sunday's back nine. "This tournament creates a lot of excitement and drama in the back nine. A lot can happen with eagles, birdies, a lot of par fives, a lot of par threes. It always creates an exciting finish," said Bradley, who is a 2025 Ryder Cup captain. Fowler, who was the 2023 tournament champion, knows the course well, especially the soft conditions from Wednesday's Pro Am. He says it would be nice if that could change once the tournament starts. "It would be fun to see it stay dry and see this course kind of bake out and get firm. Typically, we've had storms and wet conditions here, and that's why you see scores very low with how receptive the course and the greens can be," Fowler said. Bradley and Morikawa will group with Patrick Cantlay on Thursday, while Fowler will golf alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Akshay Bhatia, who finished tied for second in 2024.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Summer is here, and it is everyone's favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall. Player Information Player: Carnell Tate School: Ohio State Height/Weight: 6-3/192 lbs. Player Background - 5-Star Recruit - Played WR, DB, and Returner in High School - Attended the famous IMG Academy - CFP National Champion in 2024 Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 70 Receptions - 997 Receiving Yards - 14.2 Yards Per Reception - 5 Touchdowns Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 67.8 PFF Receiving Grade - 5 Yards After Contact Per Reception - 1.86 Yards Per Route Run - Average Depth of Target of 11.7 Yards - 10 Contested Catches Player Traits - Excellent body control to maneuver his way through traffic - Doesn't look fast, but his long strides along him to cover ground quickly - Has a big frame that he uses to get leverage in one-on-one situations - Can surprise you with his burst after the catch - Can be used outside, but is an interesting option as a slot receiver Player Summary Carnell Tate is someone that I don't remember catching my eye during Ohio State's National Championship run, but I enjoyed his film. He does a lot of stuff really well, even if he doesn't do anything great. He has great vision and awareness as a ball carrier that allows him to excel in YAC situations. He has a big frame, he has good body control of that allows him to get leverage in one-on-one situations, and as a result, he has some success on the outside. Tate has some work to do with his route tree and developing more of his athletic traits, but he could be an interesting Day Two or Three option come next April for someone with high upside to bet on.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Michigan football recruiting surges with 4-star OL Marky Walbridge commit
Michigan football recruiting has been on a heater, and you never interrupt a school when it's on a heater. The Wolverines have been on multiple commit watch ever since the conclusion of the June official visit cycle and thus far have netted two pledges in four-stars DT Titan Davis and WR Zion Robinson. The question then became, who's next? With Sherrone Moore at the helm, you always know that offensive line is going to be a priority for the maize and blue, yet Michigan only had one offensive lineman committed in 2026 in Cartersville (Ga.) Cass four-star IOL Bear McWhorter. Until now. After what appears to be a successful official visit to Ann Arbor for Victors Weekend, Needham (Mass.) St. Sebastian's four-star offensive lineman Marky Walbridge committed to Michigan football over Alabama, Penn State, and Boston College. Walbridge is rated highest by On3, which has him as the No. 235 player in the country, regardless of position. He's listed as an interior lineman by On3 but an offensive tackle by 247Sports -- which ranks him as a three-star. Here is what the class looks like with Walbridge in the fold using the 247Sports Composite rankings:
