It’s never too early for a “way too early” Big Ten power ranking! Things will change. Players will hurt the portal, players will transfer in, and injuries will happen but for the most part, we have a pretty good understanding of rosters after National Signing Day and so much transfer portal movement.
In each part of this series, we will unveil where each of the 18 teams in the new look conference begin. We started at No. 1 with the revamped Ohio State Buckeyes. Then, the Oregon Ducks come in at the second spot. Now coming in at No. 3 is the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines.
How could the team that went undefeated and won the National Championship come in the third spot in their conference? The easy answer: program turnover in modern college football.
Obviously, the question marks start right at the top with former head coach Jim Harbaugh leaving the program to take the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers. The program tried to keep a level of familiarity when they promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to the new position. That was done partly because they are high on Moore, but also to try and achieve some level of stability.
Unfortunately, the defensive staff was mostly depleted with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, defensive line coach Mike Elston, defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale, and graduate assistant Dylan Roney all heading to Harbaugh’s new staff. That means there will be a major overhaul on that side of the football.
The 2023 Wolverine team was also very experienced. They have an NFL Scouting Combine record of 18 players participating at the end of the month, illustrating how many key players were lost. Luckily the team was able to retain several future high draft picks with running back Donovan Edwards, tight end Colston Loveland, cornerback Will Johnson, and defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Those players will be counted upon heavily to soften the blow of so much roster turnover.
There’s an element of a team being “the champs until proven otherwise” but there are plenty of questions to answer.
Full Big Ten Rankings
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
- Michigan Wolverines
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