UM checks in at #22 in Way to Early 2021 Top 25.
Seems a bit optimistic to me.
January 12th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
So we are returning LBs, CBs and DL that weren't very good in 2020. For some reason I dont look at this in the same light you do.
January 12th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
The linebackers often looked confused and out of position (not flawed based on ability but confusion within the scheme, can be corrected with coaching - Not worried here, Macdonald is a LB coach).
Cornerbacks that were penalized heavily for holding but improved dramatically throughout the year (shows they are coachable).
Defensive lineman who need to time to grow into the position (Hinton flashed promise).
Players can suck their sophomore years and take a big step their junior years. Happens every year on every team.
January 12th, 2021 at 4:18 PM ^
It can happen but that doesnt mean it will happen. And honestly I remember this same argument last offseason.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
Preseason ranking is good, saved lots of money on Harbaughs contract. Looks like all is right in the Michigan Football world.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:18 PM ^
Your avatar is a built-in /s!!
January 12th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
Great success!
January 12th, 2021 at 2:12 PM ^
“Jim Harbaugh's contract extension answered one question for the Wolverines. There's still the matter of how they're going to compete even for second place in the Big Ten East.”
Ouch
January 12th, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
Michigan will comfortable beat expectations next season. No way Harbaugh goes into any game feeling as comfortable as the past few seasons. We probably win 9 games which is solid for a turnaround.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
I would take that bet every day of the week
9 wins with our schedule means outside of OSU, @Psu, and @Wisconsin, we have to be perfect. Northwestern, Indiana, Washington, and MSU all either looked better than us or straight up beat us last year
January 12th, 2021 at 1:35 PM ^
Definitely put IU and Wash as tossups at best and quite possibly losses.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
I don't want to hear anything about polls or hype at all. I'm not going to buy into anything they say. Be about it. Don't talk about it.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
This is fair. I won’t be getting excited about any preseason hype. As much as I’ve gone crazy about Harbaugh this past year now that he’s coming back I hope he is able to drastically turn things around.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
I enjoy spending the off-season being ranked.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
# 22?
Shirley, you jest!
January 12th, 2021 at 1:22 PM ^
21st? LOL, we were 2-4. We lost to 2-5 Sparty.
Talent? The talent level is as low as it's been in 15 years right now. Sorry, the team next year might have the least future NFL players ever. Outside of the freshman, who everyone always thinks walks on water, who are the NFL players we have? Dax Hill and Aiden Hutchinson on defense and who on offense will play in the NFL? Maybe an O Lineman, not sure anyone else. Maybe Johnson?
A few years ago we had 25 players who were NFL guys, I see less than 10 now.
January 12th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
Stannis Baratheon sees FEWER than 10.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:22 PM ^
Im taking the under
January 12th, 2021 at 1:25 PM ^
Based on the title of this post I thought it was referring to basketball.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^
This is why there shouldn't be any polls done until Halloween.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
The article mentions the fact that Michigan isn't in any of 4-5 other early top 25s, including Brett McMurphy's which goes 40 deep. In looking at McMurphy's he has Nebraska in his top 40. What am I missing that has him more optimistic about the Cornholers than the Wolverines?
January 12th, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
They hit harder?
January 12th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^
'jethro' and 'cornholers'? I'm I supposed to comment 'user name checks out'?
January 12th, 2021 at 1:33 PM ^
This is for our name only. It's why we shouldn't be upset about the rank of teams like MSU in basketball polls.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^
Very optimistic.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
I'll continue to believe that projecting literally anything based on the 2020 season is foolish. The bottom of the top 25 is always the slot for talented teams who could be good but haven't proven anything (like Texas most years).
January 12th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Further evidence of the stupidity of early rankings. We don’t know what our coaching staff is going to look like or who the QB is going to be, but hey, Michigan, stick them in the top 25 somewhere.
January 12th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
You have to wonder why we're so low given the amount of talent on the roster.
January 13th, 2021 at 12:08 AM ^
The talent on the roster is precisely why they are so low. The “talent” they have is not good by any measure.
January 12th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
Let the offseason bullshit commence!
January 12th, 2021 at 3:05 PM ^
Lol....fanning the flames of failure already
January 12th, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^
Holy shit this fanbase is overly negative
Lets right the ship and prove others wrong.
January 12th, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
I would be happy if we actually made it #22 some point in the season, don't see it though.
January 12th, 2021 at 4:47 PM ^
Absurd. 5-7 wins is their ceiling.
January 12th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
BOOO this man!
January 12th, 2021 at 7:39 PM ^
It seems fair for Michigan’s fan base to have low expectations for next season. They’re coming off a 2-4 season in which they needed a great relief performance from QB Cade McNamara, a clutch interception from Daxton Hill in triple overtime to beat Rutgers 48-42 and avoid finishing with five consecutive losses after an opening night 49-24 win over a Minnesota team that was missing its regular punter, kickoff specialist, placekicker and a couple of starting offensive linemen.
Trying to predict next season’s record now makes little sense without knowing with a reasonable degree of certainty who will be (1) each of Michigan’s starters and specialists and (2) each of Michigan’s football coaches for next season. Right now, the only safe bet is that Michigan will retain the Little Brown Jug for another year.
January 12th, 2021 at 7:57 PM ^
Face it, we are the Ric Flair of college football. All of the hype, pageantry, image, and hoopla, backed up by nothing of substance. Just like Flair, we are an alleged 11-time national champion that few people have actually seen in the process of winning any of them. But like Flair, fans have seen plenty of close escapes and very little of the supposed dominance.
I hope to eat my words but I fear that we are just like the joke about investing in Brazil: "It is the country of the future, and always will be."
January 12th, 2021 at 9:29 PM ^
It's worth remembering that Northwestern went 3-9 last year. When you're not Ohio State or Alabama, experience matters. Michigan was #125 in returning production before opt-outs and injuries in 2020. After that ranking, we lost our best WR and best CB to COVID opt-outs. Then we lost both starting defensive ends, both starting offensive tackles, and the starting center to injury, with other key players missing parts of the season. When we seemed to finally find a quarterback, he was immediately injured as well.