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Where is Michigan football in the “way too early” top 25 rankings?

As the 2022 season comes to a close, take a look at where every outlet has Michigan football in their “way-too-early” 2023 rankings.

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Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK | Michigan Wolverines defensive back Will Johnson (2) celebrates with Michigan Wolverines defensive back DJ Turner (5) after making an interception during the Big Ten football championship against the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Purdue Boilermakers 43-22. B1greselect02877

The 2022 college football season officially wrapped up this earlier week in spectacular fashion. The Georgia Bulldogs pulled off the largest blowout win in bowl history (58 points) in the National Championship game against No. 3 TCU.

It was somehow exciting and anti-climatic at the same time, and it got many thinking already about which teams will be able to challenge Georgia’s historic reign next season. After back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances, the Wolverines are cruising at full speed right now. With the level of talent that is returning to Ann Arbor for team 144, the expectations are sky-high for Michigan football as most expect U-M to have the best chance at taking down the Bulldogs.

Here’s a look where some of the nation’s major publications rank Michigan football in 2023.

ESPN

The “World-Wide Leader in Sports” has Michigan ranked No.3 behind (unsurprisingly) Georgia and (somewhat surprising) Ohio State.

“..Depending on how many underclassmen return in 2023, Michigan could again be the team to beat in the Big Ten. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is coming back, and star RB Blake Corum announced Monday he would return after injuring his left knee 11 games into the season. Turner and Big Ten defensive lineman of the year Morris have entered the draft, and linebacker Michael Barrett might as well. Regardless, Harbaugh has built a solid culture and foundation. A handful of additions from the transfer portal might provide some immediate help..”

Fox Sports

Fox Sports’ R.J. Young has the Wolverines as his No. 2 team behind only Georgia. Many Michigan fans will remember him leaving the Wolverines out of his top-25 all together to begin this past season. It looks like he’s fully on the Wolverine hype train now.

“The return of Blake Corum is legitimately shocking. The sure-fire first-round pick elected to run it back, giving the Wolverines an opportunity to win their third straight Big Ten title and make their third straight CFP appearance.”

CBS Sports

CBS Sports also sees Michigan as the second-best team in the nation for next season, just ahead of Ohio State, who is ranked No. 3.

“Harbaugh & Co. have the roster to win it all in 2023. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy should develop into a difference-making star as a junior based on his finish to 2022. Donovan Edwards will be the workhorse at running back alongside Blake Corum, who is returning to the Wolverines but faces a long recovery from his season-ending knee injury.”

Yahoo Sports

Yahoo Sports mixed it up some, while they have the Wolverines at three, it’s behind Georgia and Alabama. The Buckeyes round out the top four.

“..From a roster perspective Michigan should be right back in contention for another Big Ten title next fall. The Wolverines have won the conference the last two seasons and return J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards on offense and have an emerging star at cornerback in Will Johnson. Michigan has also added several quality players in the transfer portal, including ex-Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann, ex-Coastal Carolina pass rusher Josaiah Stewart and three potential starters on the offensive line.”

Sports Illustrated

SI agrees with what seems to be the consensus, that Michigan football is the second-ranked team heading into 2023; however, they deviate heavily from the other polls by ranking LSU No. 3 and Penn State No. 4.

“..Until Big Ten East rivals Ohio State and Penn State prove they can even come close to beating the Wolverines, they deserve to be the highest-rated team from that conference. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards return to keep the offense humming, with Colston Loveland looking like the next dynamic Michigan tight end. Replacements are needed at wide receiver and on the offensive line. An outstanding defense will also takes some hits, but that was the case last year as well, and the unit maintained a high level of performance. Cornerback Will Johnson is a rising star.”

USA Today

Michigan football comes in second again behind only Georgia in USA Today’s top-25 as well. Penn State ranks No. 5, while the Buckeye’s sit at No. 6.

“..Michigan could be highly motivated by a Fiesta Bowl loss to TCU and again roll through Big Ten play with a physical running game and suffocating defense. The Wolverines have quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, and will rebuild on the offensive line with multiple transfers.”

The Athletic

Stewart Mandel at The Athletic has Michigan as his No. 2 team behind only Georgia, with Ohio State and LSU rounding out his top four.

“..QB J.J. McCarthy and standout RBs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will all be back. Three Pac-12 starting offensive linemen have transferred in, as has Indiana TE AJ Barner. Linebacker Junior Colson, CB Will Johnson and S Mike Sainristil return. Coastal Carolina edge Josaiah Stewart was a big pickup, as was Nebraska LB Ernest Hausmann, a freshman starter.”

Pro Football Focus

PFF not only has the Wolverines ranked second ahead of Ohio State and Florida State, but writer Max Chadwick also picks Blake Corum to win the Heisman.

“Michigan proved last season’s Big Ten championship and playoff berth weren’t flukes, repeating those feats in 2022. The Wolverines will return many key players from this year’s squad, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Donovan Edwards and cornerback Will Johnson. The biggest returnee, though, is running back Blake Corum. The junior was my pick to win the Heisman Trophy this season after leading all players with a 95.9 grade. In fact, that grade ranks fourth among Power Five players since PFF began charting college football in 2014. He’s my pick to win the Heisman next season.”

FOOTBALL

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.



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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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