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As of right now, we have to assume that the 2020 college football season will happen as planned, though Kirk Herbstreit threw some flame retardant on that inferno.
But still, with much of the country in quarantine, it’s the perfect time to look at what could be should plans continue forward without a hitch, and Sporting News has its own ‘post-spring’ preseason Top 25.
Friend of WolverinesWire, Bill Bender, compiled a list of where he figures the best of the best would fall as of current in the rankings, and he has Michigan somewhere in the middle of the pack.
15. Michigan
It’s the same old story in Ann Arbor for sixth-year coach Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines return a talented roster, and the quarterback battle between Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton will be the focus of the spring. Nico Collins’ return was huge, and the offensive line has improved. Now, it’s on second-year offensive coordinator Josh Gattis to make it all fit. Daxton Hill is a breakout player in the secondary, but the question remains: When will this team break through against Ohio State and win a Big Ten championship? The Wolverines have won at Ohio Stadium since 2000. September tests at Washington and at home against Wisconsin won’t be easy either.
As anticipated, the Wolverines will have some heavy sledding in 2020, as Bender ranks future opponents as such:
- No. 16 Wisconsin
- No. 12 Minnesota
- No. 9 Penn State
- No. 2 Ohio State
Not to mention, Michigan opens the season at Washington, which won’t exactly be an easy task, especially given the Wolverines’ road woes. Nonetheless, the maize and blue should have more talent than most, and play Wisconsin and Penn State at home. Still, Ohio State looms large at the end of the season and there’s nothing yet suggesting that Michigan will be able to get over the hump with The Game in Columbus this year.