5 reasons Michigan Wolverines football will win a third-straight Big Ten Championship

The 2023 college football season is just 14 days away! Over the past two years, Michigan Wolverines football has won the Big Ten Championship twice in a row, appearing in the College Football Playoff (yet falling short in the semi-final round) on both occasions. This year, Jim Harbaugh has his best roster yet, so here are five reasons the Wolverines will three-peat as conference champions for the first time in three decades.

5. Michigan Wolverines football has a secret weapon

Unlike rosters in years past, the 2023 Michigan football team has a secret weapon: depth. And not just a little bit of it, either; the Wolverines are two-deep (or more) at nearly every position across the board right now. From offense to defense, especially at key spots such as running back, offensive line, linebacker, and more, Michigan has the ability to sustain injuries or rotate often without issue.

Even at quarterback, Michigan football appears to be in great shape right now. The Wolverines have JJ McCarthy headlining the room, though there are a number of very good QBs behind him as well, including long-time Indiana quarterback Jack Tuttle, who is currently one of the favorites to be QB2 this year.

Having talent is one thing, but having this much depth makes the team more competitive and will give the Wolverines a clear advantage down the stretch.

4. Veteran quarterback who has played for the Big Ten title, seen action in the College Football Playoff

When looking at this year’s Big Ten Championship race, the usual suspects are all in line to make a huge push. That said, the only true contenders with a returning quarterback this year are the Wolverines. Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and yes, even Michigan State all have fresh faces at QB. Many of these teams have also been dealing with an offseason quarterback battle.

With JJ McCarthy returning for the Michigan football offense, the Wolverines have the advantage of a Big Ten Championship-winning quarterback under center this year. Reports also confirm that he is bigger, faster, stronger, and more comfortable than ever before. From the sound of things, Sherrone Moore wants the offense to sling it around more in 2023, so McCarthy should see an increased role compared to what he had during his sophomore year in Ann Arbor.

3. Elite duos all over the field

I mentioned depth, but what I haven’t touched on yet is that Michigan Wolverines football has so much depth that many of these players will be on the field at the same time. Colston Loveland and AJ Barner (tight ends), Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards (running backs), as well as Ernest Hausmann/Mike Barrett and Junior Colson (linebackers), are just a few of the elite duos that the Wolverines will be deploying this fall.

Additionally, as Donovan Edwards pointed out during his fall camp media availability, Michigan Wolverines football can utilize his skill set as a wide receiver as well. This means that Corum and Edwards may both start in the backfield pre-snap, but that doesn’t mean that Edwards can’t motion out and create some chaos for opposing defenses.

2. Michigan Wolverines football has a (mostly) favorable schedule

This year’s Michigan Wolverines football schedule is not exactly a walk in the park, but it does provide the Maize and Blue with a clear path to a third-straight Big Ten Championship game. The non-conference slate is likely to be a non-factor this year, and a late-season road test against the Penn State Nittany Lions is daunting, but there are also several advantages. If Michigan can remain focused and avoid falling into a series of road trap games, including an October visit to East Lansing, the 2023 season will likely come down to Week 13 once again.

This year, Ohio State must come to Ann Arbor for the first time since their 42-27 loss in 2021. Michigan football has not lost at home since the pandemic season, so having the Buckeyes at the Big House is highly favorable for the Wolverines’ conference title odds, as long as they enter ‘The Game’ with no more than one loss.

1. Experience in the Big Ten Championship and beyond

Michigan Wolverines football has not lost to Ohio State since 2019. They’ve secured two consecutive Big Ten Championship titles, and the Wolverines boast ample College Football Playoff experience. Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff know how to defeat Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State, clinch the conference title, and maintain the team’s focus despite external distractions. Currently, everything seems to be falling into place for the Wolverines, who field one of the most experienced teams in recent history.

Even in positions where Michigan football appeared to lack experience, such as cornerback, the Wolverines took the initiative to acquire some of the top talents on the market, like Josh Wallace, via the transfer portal. This addition has not only deepened the roster but also brought in essential experience in anticipation of the upcoming season. Michigan not only possesses the talent to vie for another Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff run but also possesses the experience, the culture, and so much more to match.

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