Where Michigan football and its QB stand in post-spring power rankings

There are plenty of Michigan football skeptics going into the 2024 season. Whether it’s the loss of head coach Jim Harbaugh, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, or 13 players drafted into the NFL, many are discounting the Wolverines going into 2024 season.

However, some of the “experts” aren’t doing that all. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt had Michigan football in his post-spring top 10 at No. 8. Michigan was ranked third among Big Ten teams, which is a common theme as  Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports also put the Wolverines third among 2024 Big Ten power rankings. 

Michigan football checks in at No. 3 in Big Ten power rankings

Fornelli has Ohio State No. 1 and Oregon No. 2. Those picks make sense based on what he know right now. However, Fornelli also writes a fourth Big Ten title is possible.

“It may seem unfair to have the reigning national champions ranked third only a few months removed from the parade, but a lot has changed since then. Jim Harbaugh and a large chunk of the coaching staff are gone, as are J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and nearly every offensive lineman in the 734 area code. Still, there’s plenty of talent on the roster entering Sherrone Moore’s first season as the full-time head coach, and the Wolverines were able to hold onto a few huge defensive pieces whom some speculated could leave in the portal. There may not be a repeat national title in the cards, but a fourth straight Big Ten title is more likely than many believe.”

Where Michigan projected start Alex Orji ranks among Big Ten QBs

Speaking of post-spring rankings, 247 Sports ranked the projected starting quarterbacks in the Big Ten for the 2024 season. They are projecting Alex Orji to be the starting quarterback and ranked him eighth among the 18 potential starters for next season. Here’s what Brad Crawford of 247 Sports had to say:

“The expectation around Ann Arbor is Alex Orji will start, unless things go awry. Still unproven as a passer in game situation, Orji showed flashes of athleticism on the move last season as the primary backup to J.J. McCarthy during the Wolverines’ unbeaten run to their first national championship since 1997. He’s still raw in other areas like most of the quarterbacks on Michigan’s roster, but the coaching staff did like the way he handled first-team reps during the spring game last month and showed accuracy through the air. Heralded freshman Jadyn Davis is the future for Sherrone Moore, but it’s not his time yet.”

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