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Michigan football has potential to dethrone Georgia, says college football analyst

According to a college football analyst with ON3, Michigan football is poised to make a run at Georgia’s crown in 2023.

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Michigan football, College football, Georgia Bulldogs
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) scrambles against Michigan Wolverines linebacker David Ojabo (55) during the third quarter in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Could this be the year that Michigan football overcomes its College Football Playoff struggles and makes a strong push for the program’s first national title since 1997? It certainly appears to be a possibility. However, the Wolverines will face numerous formidable challenges along the way, including Penn State, Ohio State, and other strong teams within the Big Ten. Additionally, they will have to contend with national competitors like the Georgia Bulldogs.

According to college football analyst JD Pickell from ON3, there is a belief that this could be the year when Michigan football finally surpasses Georgia, after coming close to title contention in previous seasons.

College football analyst claims this could be the year that Michigan football manages to overcome Georgia

During the 2023 offseason, it was revealed that Michigan football has incorporated a ‘Beat Georgia’ segment into their practice routine. This addition follows Jim Harbaugh’s introduction of the ‘Beat Ohio’ drill in 2021, which has resulted in two consecutive dominant victories over the Buckeyes in subsequent seasons.

As the Wolverines enter a season filled with high expectations, they are considered strong contenders for the national title. However, defeating both Ohio State and Georgia will undoubtedly be challenging. Nonetheless, according to analyst JD Pickell, this could be the year that the Maize and Blue finally overcome these obstacles and achieve their goals.

“This isn’t just like a nice slogan. It’s not something you just put on a T-shirt, something you just put on a practice schedule and say, hey, ‘Beat Georgia’ period; we got that period at seven. Make sure you’re locked in,” said JD PicKell on ‘The Hard Count.’ “This is a team that can really do it. And when I say they can really do it, this is not a prediction.”

Few teams will pose a legitimate threat to the Georgia Bulldogs, who has won two straight national titles, this fall. However, Michigan football is undoubtedly one of the top teams that the Bulldogs are closely monitoring as the season approaches.

“I’m not saying that Michigan should be favored against Georgia… but when I look at what Michigan has on this roster and how they’re made up physically; that’s the real advantage for Georgia. It’s the trenches. That’s how they’ve just drug people the last couple of years. That’s how they drug TCU in the national title game. I think the physicality at Michigan actually matches up OK for Georgia. And when I say they match up, I don’t mean they’re superior. I mean, they’re good enough to hold their own, should they find themselves in the game against Georgia.”

Wolverines poised to challenge the Georgia Bulldogs for the nation’s No. 1 ranking

Last week, college football analyst Rece Davis ranked Michigan football as the number one team in the nation, citing second-year starting quarterback JJ McCarthy as the deciding factor in his pick. If the Wolverines are to finally reach the top of the rankings by the end of the season, their former five-star quarterback will need to step up and outshine any previous Michigan quarterback.

In 2023, Michigan football is the most complete, deep, and talented it has ever been under Jim Harbaugh, who is entering his 9th season as the Wolverines’ head coach this fall. It has been nearly three decades since the Maize and Blue last claimed a national title, and while Georgia appears to be a safe bet for a three-peat in 2023, Michigan is poised to challenge Kirby Smart’s crown.



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FOOTBALL

Michigan football offense could lean on “freak athlete” against Nebraska

When the Michigan football offense takes the field against Nebraska this weekend, keep an eye on this “freak athlete” for the Wolverines.

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Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland (18) runs the ball in the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

When the Michigan football offense takes the field against Nebraska this weekend, keep an eye on tight end Colston Loveland. After last week’s win over Rutgers, Jim Harbaugh said that the “cat is out of the bag” when it comes to Loveland being a “freak athlete,” and when playing a Big Ten West team like the Cornhuskers, the Wolverines may choose to lean into what Loveland brings to the table.

Michigan football offense could lean on “freak athlete” against Nebraska

Michigan football has a special talent in tight end Colston Loveland, who first broke out as a true freshman in 2022, and has since become a nationally touted weapon for the Maize and Blue. After the Rutgers win, Jim Harbaugh explained that the “cat is out of the bag” when it comes to Loveland’s impact on the offense.

“Colston Loveland — and I’ve been thinking this for well over a year now — he’s really great,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Freak athlete and a team guy all the way in every way. So I think the cat’s out of the bag. … He doesn’t know how good he can be. He doesn’t know how good he is. I kind of always thought maybe the longer it takes him to figure that out, the better off he’ll be. But the cat’s out of the bag.”

Loveland could see an increased role during Big Ten play

This weekend, when Michigan football heads to Lincoln, NE, Colston Loveland may find himself as a focal point of the Wolverines’ offensive attack. The Cornhuskers have the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense, meaning JJ McCarthy should get ample opportunity to air it out on Saturday; seeing as Big Ten games are underway, the tight end room is expected to be more involved throughout the rest of the season.

“But he’s a true whatever — let’s say it the way Jack Harbaugh (Jim’s father) would say it — ‘He’s a foot-ball-player.’ And there’s nothing better you can say about somebody or give them more of a compliment than to say they’re a foot-ball-player,” Harbaugh said.

So far this year, Loveland — Michigan’s “freak athlete” at tight end — has caught 14 passes for 168 yards. As the season goes on, it sounds like Michigan football is gearing up to call his name more and more.

Against Nebraska this weekend, keep a close eye on No. 18 when the Wolverines’ offense takes the field, especially now that it’s clear that he and JJ McCarthy have a special connection.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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Michigan football cornerback Will Johnson details the latest on new transfer

Yesterday, Michigan football standout Will Johnson detailed the latest on transfer Josh Wallace.

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Sep 2, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive back Josh Wallace (12) blocks a pass to East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Ryan King (11) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Due to injuries and a need for depth, transfer portal addition Josh Wallace (from UMass) has been thrown into action quite a bit so far this fall. On Tuesday, we caught up with Michigan football cornerback Will Johnson — a sophomore — during his media availability at Schembechler Hall. There, the second-year Michigan standout detailed how Wallace is fitting in and more.

Michigan football cornerback Will Johnson gives the latest on Josh Wallace

According to Will Johnson, Josh Wallace is fitting in well with Michigan football so far.

“He’s a great cornerback,” Will Johnson said of transfer Josh Wallace. “I’m glad we got him because it’s definitely a place we needed somebody, and he’s very physical, great ball skills. You saw that pick (against ECU) he should have had week one. So yeah, he’s a great player. I’m excited to see what he does the rest of the year.”

New transfer portal addition brings experience and more to the table

Josh Wallace is in his first year with Michigan football; however, the transfer cornerback has been around when it comes to college football. On the other hand, while Will Johnson has played in Ann Arbor longer, he is only a sophomore and is picking up on some of what Wallace’s experience brings to the table.

“He’s a veteran,” Johnson continued. “So you know, he’s very savvy in the things he does, and we all play off each other. We always try to work off each other. I mean, I think as a whole, we just do whatever we can to get better with each other.”

Michigan football looking to get Josh Wallace more reps as the weeks go by

This weekend, with players like Amorion Walker still banged up, expect Josh Wallace to continue getting some significant reps for the Michigan football defense. To this point, it’s clear that Jim Harbaugh assembled one of the top transfer portal classes in the nation, with Wallace and many others continuing to shine for the Maize and Blue.

Through four games of the 2023 season, Josh Wallace has recorded six total tackles (three solo) and two pass breakups. He nearly had an interception in Week 1; however, due to a technicality, it was ultimately called back.



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ESPN analyst says there is ‘validity’ to Jim Harbaugh NFL rumors

This analyst says that there is some validity to back the Jim Harbaugh NFL rumors.

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© Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

If you’re a Michigan football fan, you are quite used to the Jim Harbaugh NFL rumors that plague every offseason in Ann Arbor. The rumors of Harbaugh returning to the NFL peaked in 2022, when the Wolverines’ head coach interviewed for a job with the Vikings, yet ultimately returned to his alma mater the following season. Still, seeing as Harbaugh boasts a 29-3 record since 2021, the rumor mill continues — according to Greg McElroy of ESPN, there will always be some validity to these grumblings.

ESPN analyst says there is ‘validity’ to Jim Harbaugh NFL rumors

With talks of an NCAA suspension, conference expansion, the transfer portal, NIL, and more, no one would blame Jim Harbaugh for eying a return to the NFL next year. That said, there appears to be no interest from Harbaugh right now, likely due to it being mid-season for his Wolverines.

Still, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy recently expressed his belief that, despite Harbaugh’s commitment to Michigan football, the rumors of his return will always be valid. He said so on the Always College Football podcast.

“When it comes to Jim Harbaugh going to the NFL, I think there’s always validity,” Greg McElroy stated. “Jim Harbaugh has seen his brother win a Super Bowl, and Jim Harbaugh was five yards away from potentially winning a Super Bowl. It’s not that he doesn’t love his job at Michigan, but if the opportunity presents itself to go back to the NFL, I think there’s always gonna be validity.

“College football is a hard job. The (transfer) portal, roster retention, roster development, NIL. It’s hard. In the NFL, there are rules — free agency, draft. NFL’s a lot easier gig for a head coach. By the way, the (Los Angeles) Chargers have a pretty good roster. Obviously a legit, big-time quarterback in (ex-Oregon Duck) Justin Herbert. So I think there’s some validity there potentially, but there always is when it comes to Harbaugh. I think he likes to be wooed, and that’s okay because he’s still winning at a really high clip.”

Michigan football knows what to expect every offseason with Harbaugh as head coach

Michigan football fans know that, even if Jim Harbaugh were to shut down the rumors right now, they would still pop back up by season’s end. As long as Harbaugh is at the college level, people will be tying him to an NFL job — that is just the reality that we live in right now, especially since Harbaugh has Michigan pinned among the nation’s top national title contenders right now.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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