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Michigan football ranked behind Ohio State in ESPN’s 2023 preseason poll

The 2022 season just came to a close, and the Wolverines are already being disrespected by national media.

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Michigan Wolverines linebacker Taylor Upshaw (91) celebrates his interception against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.

Last night, the 2022-23 college football season officially ended with No. 1 Georgia’s 65-7 win over No. 3 TCU in the National Championship game. With the 2022 season in the books, many — including ESPN — are already preparing for the 2023 season. When ESPN’s preseason poll was released, there was one major flaw: Ohio State is ahead of Michigan football.

ESPN’s top-5 heading into 2023

Here are the top-5 teams in ESPN’s initial preseason poll:

    1. Georgia (15-0 in 2022)
    2. Ohio State (11-2 in 2022)
    3. Michigan (13-1 in 2022)
    4. Florida State (10-3 in 2022)
    5. Alabama (11-2 in 2022)

As you can see, aside from the Georgia Bulldogs being No. 1, this poll looks kind of odd. The first thing that appears to stick out is Florida State being ranked in the top-5 after a narrow Cheez-It Bowl win over 6-7 Oklahoma in December of last year. That being said, FSU could be a threat, so you never know.

When taking a closer look, and even more egregious mistake appears: Ohio State is ranked ahead of Michigan football. Why? We could not tell you, and frankly, I doubt ESPN could explain it either.

U-M has sustained success against the Buckeyes this decade.

First of all, Michigan has a case to be the nation’s No. 2 team heading into 2023. Before last night, I thought U-M might have a case for No. 1; however, Georgia’s 65-7 National Championship win has completely changed my mind – I’d be happy with No. 2 if UGA is No. 1. That being said, there is zero reason for the Wolverines to be behind Ohio State to open 2023.

Over the past two years, one thing has become clear: Michigan football is just better than Ohio State right now. Not only have the Wolverines beaten the Buckeyes twice in a row, but frankly, neither game was even all that close. In 2021, No. 2 Ohio State headed to Ann Arbor to face No. 5 Michigan and lost by 15 points. After Ohio State’s 42-27 loss in 2021, most thought that OSU would come back with a vengeance in 2022.

After starting the season with an 11-0 record and a No. 2 ranking, Ohio State’s success was short-lived against the Wolverines. Not only did Ohio State lose ‘The Game’ for the second-straight year, but the score was even more lopsided despite the game being played in Columbus. Michigan’s 45-23 victory over Ohio State sent the Wolverines to the Big Ten Championship game with a 12-0 record — the program’s first 12-0 start since 1997.

The last time Ohio State beat Michigan was in 2019 when Justin Fields was under center. This decade, the Buckeyes are winless (0-2) against Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan football should be favored to win the Big Ten

The last two seasons of Michigan football have taught us a lot, but most importantly, it is that the Wolverines finally made the jump. Since Jim Harbaugh was hired in late-2014, Michigan has won 10-or-more games in five of its seven full seasons. In four of Michigan’s five 10-win seasons, the Wolverines were competing for a CFP berth and Big Ten Championship heading into the Ohio State game.

Michigan football is now 2-2 in Big Ten East Title-deciding games — its two losses were in 2016 and 2018, and its two wins came in 2021 and 2022. With Michigan’s two wins over Ohio State came two blowout wins in the Big Ten Championship game and CFP berths.

Heading into the 2023 season, Michigan football is absolutely loaded across the board. While U-M is losing some key contributors from the 2022 squad, it is bringing in some solid freshman talent as well as seven game-ready transfers via the No. 4 transfer class in the nation. If that wasn’t enough, Michigan football will likely retain both coordinators, its head coach, and many of its stars from last season.

Yesterday, Michigan’s Heisman-contending running back — Blake Corum — announced that he will be staying in Ann Arbor for one final season in the Maize and Blue. This means that on top of the Wolverines’ incredible offensive line, Michigan football brings back Blake Corum (RB), Donovan Edwards (RB), and JJ McCarthy (QB). The Wolverines’ offense is going to be scary good next fall, which is a dangerous thing to pair with an elite-level defense.

As we turn our attention to 2023, one thing has become apparent: despite Michigan’s two-straight wins over Ohio State, two-straight Big Ten Championships, and two-straight CFP berths, the Wolverines will still be disrespected by the national media. If Michigan football wants to prove that it belongs, it will need to beat Ohio State for a third-straight year. This time, U-M gets the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor.

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Major outlet ranks Jim Harbaugh as No. 1 coach in the Big Ten

A major outlet ranked Jim Harbaugh as the best coach in the Big Ten.

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Jim Harbaugh of Michigan football
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh throws prior to the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

ANN ARBOR, MI — Over the past two seasons, the entire identity of the Michigan Wolverines’ football program has changed. Before 2021, the Michigan football team was coming off of a 2-4 season in 2020; before that, the Wolverines were managing 8-10 wins per season, though consistantly losing to Ohio State, their bowl game, and saw frequent losses to Michigan State and Penn State. Since that 2021 season, everything has changed for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines — in fact, Harbaugh is now thought of as the best coach in his conference.

Jim Harbaugh changes everything for Michigan football in 2021

After arguably the worst season in Michigan football history (2020), Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines decided to go all-in on the 2021 season. At his Big Ten media presser, Harbaugh claimed that Michigan would accomplish its goals (beating Ohio State, Michigan State, winning the Big Ten, and more) or “die trying.” The Wolverines did exactly that — Michigan football finished the regular season with an 11-1 record after downing Ohio State 42-27 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines then won the Big Ten title for the first time since 2004; however, were dominated by Georgia in the CFP.

A season later, Michigan football appeared to improve as Jim Harbaugh led his team to a 12-0 finish — including massive 20+ point wins over Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State — before winning the program’s first-ever 13th game in a single season. While the Wolverines still fell short against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, the 2022 season was monumental for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football.

Heading into the 2023 season, Michigan appears to have its best roster during the Jim Harbaugh era (since 2015). In fact, right now, the Wolverines come into the season favored against every major program that it must face: Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State. If the Wolverines aren’t competing for a Big Ten title this year, most fans will call the season a disappointment.

On3 ranks Harbaugh No. 1 in the Big Ten

Of the 14 coaches in the Big Ten, On3 claims that none are better than Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. Here is what On3 had to say about Harbaugh and why he is ranked No. 1:

It took some time, but Jim Harbaugh fulfilled his promise of beating Ohio State and delivering his alma mater a Big Ten Championship. 

Then he did it again last season. The Wolverines are 25-3 the last two years, with a pair of conference titles and College Football Playoff berths. While Harbaugh has downplayed some of the major cultural and philosophical changes he made before the 2021 season, he deserves credit for pivoting and overhauling his staff. 

In eight years at Michigan, Harbaugh has five seasons with at least 10 wins. Although the yearly NFL rumors remain a distraction, the Wolverines don’t look like they’re going to slowdown at all under Harbaugh, either. They bring back a loaded squad in 2023 — with Harbaugh supplementing the depth chart with several key additions from the transfer portal — and will be the favorites to three-peat in the Big Ten. 

While I weigh the present more than the past, Harbaugh’s coaching resume also includes jumpstarting Stanford’s program (12-1 season in his final year) and four years with the San Francisco 49ers where he never had a losing season, played in the NFC Championship Game three times and lost to his brother John Harbaugh in the Super Bowl.

The next three coaches behind Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are: Ryan Day (Ohio State), Luke Fickell (Wisconsin), and James Franklin (Penn State).



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Tom Brady’s son is looking to attend the University of Michigan

The son of a Michigan legend is dreaming of attending his father’s alma mater.

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Tom Brady's son University of Michigan
Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh laugh during warm ups prior to the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a few decades since former Michigan captain Tom Brady suited up in the Maize and Blue. From 1998-1999, the greatest football player of all time donned the winged helmet and led the Michigan football team to a 20-5 record, two bowl wins, a Big Ten title, and more during his time as a starter. Since then, the program has seen its ups and downs, and Tom Brady has seen action with two NFL franchises and won a league record seven Super Bowls — he also appeared in 10 Super Bowls. Now, decades after the fact, Tom Brady’s son is looking to repeat a bit history and attend the University of Michigan.

Tom Brady’s son, Jack, dreams of attending the University of Michigan

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Tom Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bundchen claims that Tom Brady’s son Jack wants to attend school at his father’s alma mater. Brady, who recently played his final football game ever (assuming this retirement sticks, unlike his last one), played five years of football in Ann Arbor in the 90s. He was a part of a few Big Ten title-winning teams, as well as the infamous national championship team in 1997.

From Vanity Fair: The whole brood is thriving, and Jack remains her bonus child. “I love him so much,” Bündchen says of Jack, who is “quarterbacking”—very much a verb in this household—with aspirations of going to his father’s alma mater, the University of Michigan.

Tom Brady himself also mentioned that his son Jack has some better qualities than him — he claims that his only specialty in life, unlike Jack, is throwing a football. Like Tom, Jack Brady loves playing football and is currently a quarterback, which is something that his father plans on helping him with.

“I don’t have a lot of specialties in life other than probably throwing a football,” Brady joked. “He’s way smarter. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s just a great kid, but I can definitely help him at quarterback.”

It would be a massive move for the University of Michigan community to have Tom Brady’s son enroll nearly 30 years after his father attended. The school, program, and town have changed quite a bit since Tom Brady led his 1999 Wolverines to a 1-point win over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl; however, Michigan’s profound love for Tom Brady has not subsided one bit. In fact, over the years, the school has grown to appreciate all that Tom does for it more and more.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics 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 Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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Michigan’s converted defensive back is going to be better than people think

The Wolverines have an insane athlete on their hands.

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Michigan football Amorion Walker
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

ANN ARBOR, MI — Just before the start of spring ball, the Michigan Wolverines decided that — in order to address cornerback depth issues — a former three-star wideout would be moved to cornerback. Since making this call, the massive Amorion Walker has turned into a spring ball standout, and according to coaches and players, is a freak of nature on the football field. However good you think Amorion Walker is going to be, he will likely be better.

Michigan football converted DB Amorion Walker turning out to be a stud on the football field

Since the start of Michigan football spring ball, the Wolverines’ newly converted cornerback — Amorion Walker — has been turning heads among the players and the staff. Here are some of the comments that others have made on Walker’s ability per The Michigan Daily.

“(Walker) has gifts that a lot of people don’t,” standout defensive back Mike Sainristil told The Daily during Michigan football spring practices. Walker’s unique athletic ability and mix of an incredible frame (6-foot-4, 180-pounds) “He’s 6-foot-3, moves like he’s 5-foot-10. He plays like he’s 225, he’s tall, he’s lengthy. He runs a 4.2, 4.3 (40 yard dash). His skill set is rare.”

Just because Walker came to Michigan as a receiver does not mean that he has not dreamed of getting this opportunity for awhile. In fact, Amorion Walker would have things no other way — he is ready for his new challenge.

“I always wanted to play both ways,” Walker said last week. “I still love the defensive side of the ball. That was actually the first position I ever played. So, it’s kind of where I get my background.” He continued, “I’m trying to lose the receiver tendencies that I have from playing it for a long time … Just trying to get back into the DB motion and back to where I used to be before I made the switch.”

The praise for Amorion Walker and his athletic talent are not just from outsiders, either; Walker knows that he is an incredible athlete. “I definitely am one of the best athletes in the country, for sure,” Walker said. “As far as running and jumping and being able to change direction.”



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics 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 Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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