FOOTBALL

Michigan football earns elite ranking in CBS Sports’ first official preseason poll of 2023

Michigan football is a national title contender this year.

Published

2 years ago

August 2, 2023

Oct 1, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive back Will Johnson (2) and Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta (84) in action during the game at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Gone are the days of ‘way-too-early’ and ‘post-spring’ preseason poll releases. The 2023 college football season is exactly one month out, fall camp is starting today, and CBS has announced its first official poll of the year, ranking Michigan football at No. 2 nationally, only trailing the Georgia Bulldogs.

Michigan football is ranked No. 2 in CBS Sports preseason poll

After beating Ohio State and Penn State twice in a row, winning the Big Ten title twice in a row, and appearing in the College Football Playoff twice in a row, it’s safe to say that Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines are garnering tons of national respect right now. In fact, aside from the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs, CBS Sports doesn’t think that there is a better team in the nation heading into the 2023 season than the Michigan football team.

With an impressive coaching staff, veteran players across the board (including at quarterback), and impactful additions via the transfer portal and the freshman class, the 2023 roster is being pinned as Jim Harbaugh’s best since taking over as head coach in Ann Arbor back in late-2014.

As Blake Corum put it last week, Michigan football is tired of dreaming about a national title — this fall, it’s time for the Maize and Blue to get over the hump, claiming the program’s first national championship since the 1997 season. Michigan’s ranking is elite, but the Wolverines undoubtedly want to move up to No. 1 by season’s end.

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