January 25th, 2020 at 11:03 AM ^
We are.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
And so are the rest of the top 7-30. Go back to the article on flocking of top recruits: we aren't in that group / we are second tier.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
I have to disagree. The top tier is at most 6 teams (maybe less if we wanna be specific). But 7-30 is absolutely not in the same tier. 7-15 are what I would call very good teams, with a realistic chance to become elite if things go well. 15-30 have no chance ever.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
OK - so maybe 30 is generous. Given our schedule this past year, I wouldn't put our #18 finish outside of that second tier.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:46 PM ^
Our final SP+ was 10.
January 25th, 2020 at 2:16 PM ^
10,000% correct.
TIER 1: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State
TIER 1.5: Oklahoma
Didn't even need to click thru the link.
January 26th, 2020 at 5:20 AM ^
Fuck all the Oklahoma love. If they were in the B1G they would just like us, Wisc, and Penn St.
January 25th, 2020 at 3:07 PM ^
Penn State!
I'll show myself out...
January 25th, 2020 at 11:03 AM ^
I see no lies.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:26 PM ^
I'm not sure we're even second tier at this point. I guess it depends on how big that tier is, but if we're included it would be towards the bottom.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^
Assuming tier 1 is your 6 perennial playoff contenders, tier 2 would be your teams that are in the conversation most of the year and knocking on the door it would be 7-15. Michigan has finished ranked in that range three of Harbaugh’s five years. This year we finished just outside that range and had a schedule which featured 6 teams that finished in tier 1-2. The five year SP+ ranking has Michigan in the top 10. We’re also top 10 in wins over the past 5 years.
Michigan is certainly in that 2nd tier, and the consistency of being there puts them near the top end of it.
Now whether or not you’re content with being there is another conversation. But I really don’t see how anyone can say Michigan isn’t in that second tier.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:52 PM ^
Being towards the bottom of your self-defined second tier 3/5 years and totally out of it 2/5 doesn’t make you near the top. It makes you near the bottom more often than not, and at the top of the third tier fairly frequently.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
If LSU, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma are first tier then we are 2nd tier. Winning one conference title in 15 years certainly doesn't sound elite. Fans need to stop living in the past and accept reality.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:22 AM ^
Georgia is first tier? Because they won one SEC title game that didn't have Bama in it and then proceeded to lose to Bama in the national title game? Georgia is the Wisconsin of the SEC. Is the 3rd or 4th best team in their conference in any given year but always goes to the conference title game and a high end bowl game because they play in the easier division
January 25th, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
They've been recruiting at a first tier level but performing at a second tier level.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:50 AM ^
We've been recruiting at a second tier level and performing at a third tier level.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Well they've been to the playoffs as much as any team not named Bama or Clemson, and they did win a SEC title, so yeah.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:55 PM ^
Just blatantly untrue. OSU has been three times and Oklahoma has been four. What you should say is Georgia has been to the playoffs as many times as Michigan State, Washington, and Notre Dame. Tier 1, my ass
January 25th, 2020 at 12:19 PM ^
Been a top 5 team each of last 3 years in S&P ratings and are 4th overall during that span. As a program overall they have been better than LSU over last 3 years combined
January 25th, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
I think everyone is in agreement that lsu is a flash in the pan. Lost all their players and coordinators. They had a great season, maybe the best ever, but they're not a tier 1 program if you look at the big picture. They lost to Troy like two years ago, FFS
They have 4 easy losses coming this fall
January 25th, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
You are a moron.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Georgia had to hang on by the skin of their teeth to beat ND at home this year; solidly 2nd tier.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:34 AM ^
Regarding LSU, they had one incredible year and have otherwise been similar to us IMO for more than a decade. After this season they lose their record-setting Heisman QB, 4 OL, seven starters on defense, most of their receiving yards, most of their rushing yards, their top two offensive coaches, and their DC. I think they'll fall hard back to earth this year. We may even be looking at a situation similar to when Chizik won a title with Cam Newton and Gus Malzahn. I would say that in terms of how good the teams are, the top tier is:
Clemson
Bama
OSU
And that's really it. Oklahoma gets to enjoy their company because they play in the Big 12. Maybe Oklahoma and Georgia would get their own category, but I don't think they fit in with the other three. We're probably in the next group.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Agree with most of that but they still have an enormous in-state talent pool and now they can leverage a national championship in recruiting with a favorable perception of the program. Much better positioned than we are in both regards for the future given the local talent base and negative perception of Harbaugh as someone unable to beat quality teams.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
Obviously true. Our record speaks for itself
January 25th, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
They would be correct.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
They're not wrong
January 25th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
Cha brah.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
Historically, no. ...currently, yes.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
1 national title in my lifetime. Im 38. Historically, yes.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
How many different programs have won a national title in the last 40 years?
January 25th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
Without looking:
LSU, bama, Clemson, osu, Auburn, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Miami, Florida, Florida state, Texas, usc
I get 13 and off memory. There’s gotta be more.
edit: Nebraska (fuck them) would be 14 and did Notre Dame win one in the 80s?
January 25th, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
If you're going over the last 40 years, PSU has won 2 ('82 and '86) and went undefeated in '93.
ND won it in '88 and has played in a BCS title game and made the college football playoff.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
Yeah, I was just taking a wild guess. 17 was my first thought, but I’m too lazy to check.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
My point is, people make it sound like ONLY winning ONE national championship is something to be ashamed of. It's not like half the teams in college football can even make that claim. It's a relatively small number.
February 8th, 2020 at 8:25 PM ^
It's different when you know you don't have a realistic chance BEFORE the season even starts.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:17 AM ^
It's best not to allow yourself to be sucked in to trolling for clicks. That approach has been around for a while now.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
It’s great to see some many realists here. No way someone can honestly look at the result of Michigan this millennium and think they’re an elite program.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
If anything second tier might be generous depending on how big your tiers are
January 25th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
Rare near consensus of agreement, I also don't see much to argue with in the article.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
Truth hurts.
And I wouldn't put us at the top of the second tier, either. Not with our craptastic record against top ten teams, or our pathetic bowl record, or our embarrassing uncompetitive asskickings by elite teams, or our inability to upset anybody.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:02 PM ^
Agreed, when you drill down as you stated, we have very little to brag about. We can only hope to do better next year.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
closer to 3rd tier than 1st
January 25th, 2020 at 11:28 AM ^
ESPN also believes they are the worldwide leader in sports entertainment.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
I don't like ESPN, but what does one thing have to do with the other?
January 25th, 2020 at 11:28 AM ^
True. We are not 1st tier. Depending on the grouping of tiers .....we may fall closer to third tier rather than 1st tier.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:28 AM ^
ESPN is not wrong...for once
