5 reasons Michigan makes the 2019 College Football Playoff

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Michigan's Donovan Peoples-Jones returns a punt in the first quarter of Michigan's 31-20 loss to Ohio State during a college football game on November 25, 2017, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TX – ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Michigan Wolverines wide receivers Tarik Black (#7) and Kekoa Crawford (#1) celebrate a touchdown during the Advocare Classic college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and Florida Gators on September 2, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Michigan won the game 33-17. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Offensive weaponry, experience

Much of the talk about the Michigan offense entering the 2018 season is going to be about the quarterback position (it’s coming here, too). That’s not surprising considering the importance of the position and the narratives surrounding the Wolverines coming into the year. However, no matter what is happening with the signal-callers in Ann Arbor, they are going to be surrounded with a group of weapons that is both highly talented and quite experienced.

At running back, both Karan Higdon and Chris Evans will be back in the fold for another season, meaning the Wolverines will return their two leading rushers from 2017. Higdon led the team with 164 carries for 994 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, but Evans contributed at a high level as well with 135 totes for 685 yards and six trips to the end zone. Having this duo back in the fold in the backfield is a tremendous asset for Harbaugh’s offense.

Meanwhile, the pass-catchers for the Wolverines should also be a huge help to the new face at quarterback this season. Wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Kekoa Crawford, Grant Perry and Tarik Black will all return for another year, and so too will tight ends Zach Gentry and Sean McKeon. While no one in this group put up huge statistical numbers last season, that is more a testament to the poor quarterback play as opposed to an indictment on their abilities.

What this all means is that the offense for Michigan should ultimately be the best that we’ve seen under Harbaugh. When it comes to talent and experience in addition to a plus at quarterback, we’ve not seen that all come into picture throughout his tenure. That could and should be the case in 2018, however.

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