CBS Sports optimistic about Michigan football, but still underrating the Wolverines
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?
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.
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