Despite setbacks, Michigan football is on an upward trend

Since the 2022 Michigan football season came to a close, the Wolverines have faced a good amount of adversity. With rumors of Jim Harbaugh heading to the NFL, the NCAA hitting U-M with a notice of allegations for Level 1 and 2 violations, and more, 2023 has been rough for Michigan football fans thus far. Still, despite all of this, the Wolverines are on an upward trend.

Past two seasons prove Michigan football is a contender

If we have learned one thing over the past two years, it is that Michigan football is undoubtedly a contender. Since Jim Harbaugh claimed that Michigan would win the Big Ten or die trying, the Wolverines are 25-3 overall with two-straight wins over Ohio State, Big Ten Championships, and College Football Playoff (CFP) appearances.

A season ago (in 2021) Michigan football became the first program to start the season unranked and make the CFP. Despite dropping a mid-season game to in-state rival, Michigan State, Michigan managed to overcome No. 2 Ohio State in Ann Arbor to clinch a Big Ten East title. Michigan’s 42-27 win over the Buckeyes was the program’s first since 2011 under former head coach Brady Hoke, who was fired after a 5-7 season in 2014.

The Wolverines went on to defeat No. 13 Iowa (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in the Big Ten Championship game, 42-3. The Wolverines’ 2021 conference title was the program’s first since 2004 under former head coach Lloyd Carr. After improving to 12-1 on the season, Michigan lost to Georgia in the CFP semifinal matchup — the Orange Bowl game in Miami, FL — to the eventual National Champion Georgia Bulldogs.

The 2021 season was a trend-breaker in the best way possible for Michigan football, and set a new standard for the Wolverines. It was Michigan’s first top-3 finish since 1999 when U-M defeated Alabama in the Orange Bowl and finished 10-2 overall, and its first 12-win season since the 1997 National Championship team.

In the Wolverines’ most recent season, Michigan football again turned some heads. The Wolverines were a bit questionable coming into the season, and Michigan’s weak non-conference schedule did not held their case for legitimacy. Still, Michigan just kept winning each game instead of complaining about who said what.

The Wolverines’ 41-17 win over Penn State during Michigan’s annual “Maize Out” game was a huge resume booster, especially considering the Nittany Lions went on to finish in the top-10 with an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl win. After the Penn State win, the Wolverines won back Paul Bunyan with a 29-7 win over Michigan State, and obliterated the Buckeyes in Columbus, 45-23.

For the first time in 25 years, U-M finished the regular season undefeated; and for the first time ever, the Wolverines had back-to-back 12-win seasons. The Wolverines went on to beat Purdue in the Big Ten Championship game, 43-22, and secured the first 13-win season in Michigan football history. The Wolverines went on to lose in the CFP semifinal once again, but became one of few programs to make multiple trips to the Playoff.

Additionally, the last team not names Ohio State to win back-to-back Big Ten Championships was Wisconsin in 2011 and 2012. Michigan is the first team not named Ohio State to win back-to-back Big Ten Championship games. Additionally, U-M finished in the top-5 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1947-1948.

U-M is seeing success on the recruiting trail

Michigan football, while not at the top of its game when it comes to recruiting, is doing well on the recruiting trail. That being said, Michigan is still doing well with its most recent classes. Right now, the Wolverines have a top-20 class (No. 17 overall) nationally, a top-20 freshman class (No. 17 overall), and a top-5 transfer class (No. 4 overall). Michigan football is bringing some serious talent to Ann Arbor next year, and many of its newest players already have Power Five experience.

Now, in fairness, I am not sure how many of these players will stick around if Jim Harbaugh does end up leaving for the NFL. Harbaugh will be interviewing with the Denver Broncos — who appear to be quite interested in Harbaugh — this coming week. Still, as of right now Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of Michigan football, and until that changes, we assume it’s business as usual in Ann Arbor.

2023 is looking like a special season for Michigan football

After last year’s 13-1 performance, no one can help but think about how much potential the 2023 team has. The Wolverines are bringing in a ton of talent through its freshman class and can fill many gaps with an incredibly talented (and battle-tested) transfer class. On top of that, U-M is retaining many key starters from the 2022 team, including quarterback JJ McCarthy and running back Donovan Edwards.

On Monday, Blake Corum announced that he will be returning for his senior season in the Maize and Blue this fall. To say this is a massive addition for the 2023 Wolverines would be an understatement to say the least.

On top of that, the Wolverines will host Ohio State again, and should be the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten for the first time in decades. U-M must face Penn State in Happy Valley — which will be a daunting task to say the least — but there is no reason Michigan should not be contending for the conference once again.

Despite going 12-2 a year ago and 13-1 this past season, Michigan is yet to win a CFP game; in fact, the Wolverines’ only bowl win under Jim Harbaugh (since 2015) was in a 2016 Citrus Bowl — a 41-7 win over No. 19 Florida. Since then, Michigan football is 0-6 in bowl games, 0-4 in New Year’s Six games, and 0-2 in CFP games. In fact, as shocking as it may seem, U-M has more Big Ten Championship game wins (2) than it has bowl wins (1) over the past decade.

This is something that will need to change soon, though as we saw with Michigan’s struggles against Ohio State, U-M can only knock on the door for so long. Eventually, the Wolverines will break through, and what better time than 2023? Next season could be another great one for Jim Harbaugh and Co. — perhaps even a National Championship season. Despite all of the negativity and narratives surrounding the Wolverines’ program right now, U-M is headed in the right direction.

If something is to come up that hinders U-M, then we can deal with that when the times comes. Until then, we’re just excited for another great year of Michigan football.