College Football Rankings: Top 25 entering spring games
By Brad Weiss
Michigan Wolverines
2016: 10-3, Big Ten- East Division
The path was clear for the Michigan Wolverines in 2016. After starting the year off 9-0, the team headed to what should have been a tune-up game on the road against Iowa. The Wolverines ended up being upset by the Hawkeyes, setting in motion a chain of games that would see them lost three of their last four contests. The low-light of the year was a double-overtime loss against the hated Ohio State Buckeyes on road in a game that they could have easily won.
It is easy to say that if they had beaten the Buckeyes, they likely would have ended up in the College Football Playoff. Head coach Jim Harbaugh had a loaded squad last season but will head into 2017 with a bunch of question marks on the roster. Wilton Speight will return as the team’s quarterback, and he is a good one, but the question is who is he going to throw the ball to?
In total, the Wolverines lost 17 starters from last season, including Jabrill Peppers and Taco Charlton, who both could wind up being first round picks in next month’s draft. The offensive line lost three starters, and the team also lost Jake Butt, who was one of the better tight ends in college football. Michigan brought in the fourth-best recruiting class in the nation, so do not feel sorry for Harbaugh and company just yet.
The bottom line is Harbaugh is a winner, and Michigan should be in good position to win the Big Ten East Division when they host Ohio State in their regular season finale. The team is going to need a big season from Chris Evans, who played well at running back during his freshman season in 2016. Road trips to Penn State and Wisconsin await them, but if they can get off to a fast start against Florida in their season opener, it should give this young, inexperienced roster the confidence it needs when it heads to Big Ten play.