Michigan football is going to have some major expectations when the 2023 football season rolls around.
For starters, the Wolverines have won the Big Ten in back-to-back seasons. Plus, the maize and blue have dominated rival Ohio State twice in a row and Michigan has made it to the College Football Playoff in both 2021 and 2022. While the Wolverines lost in the semifinals to Georgia (2021) and TCU (2022), the bottom line is Michigan had the talent and will to get there twice in a row.
ESPN had already named the Wolverines the No. 3 team in the country entering 2023 in the preseason top 25. On Tuesday, Bill Connely and ESPN came out with their preseason SP+ rankings and Michigan was the third-ranked team there as well behind Georgia and Ohio State.
On Wednesday, Connelly and ESPN wrote about the floors, ceilings, and biggest variables surrounding each top-25 team in 2023.
When it comes to the No. 3 ranked Wolverines, the ceiling is quite simple: another undefeated 12-0 season. According to ESPN, the floor for Michigan would be 9-3 — assuming it loses to Ohio State, Penn State, and to either Minnesota or Michigan State.
The Wolverines have a 46% chance to finish the 2023 campaign 11-1 or better according to the article. But what is the biggest variable for the 2023 maize and blue? Connelly believes it all has to do with the pass rush.
Biggest variable: Pass rush. The third of the three teams in the “12-0 to 9-3” range boasts something the others don’t: an incumbent quarterback (J.J. McCarthy). They’ll have one of the most experienced teams in the country, too. There’s a lot to like. But the Wolverines’ pass rush in 2022 was merely good, not great, and now they must replace edge rusher Mike Morris. Between Coastal Carolina transfer Josaiah Stewart and some youngsters, Michigan will need to unearth some players who not only match last year’s sack production but increase it.
In 2022, Michigan was tied for 19th in the country with 37 sacks in the year. But the Wolverines will be without their top two sack leaders from this past year. Mike Morris led the team with 7.5 sacks and Eyabi Okie, who transferred, has 4.5 sacks.
The Wolverines will look for Braiden McGregor, Derrick Moore, Jaylen Harrell, along with Josaiah Stewart to all step up in 2023.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]