5 college football teams that will be better than you think in 2021
By John Buhler
A handful of traditional college football powers could be better than expected in 2021.
Though there are only a few college football teams capable of winning the 2022 College Football Playoff, several blue-blood-caliber programs could be on the precipice of having a great year seemingly out of nowhere.
We could look at examples from last season when it comes to exceeding expectations. Who saw the Northwestern Wildcats winning the Big Ten West, the Indiana Hoosiers becoming a top-15 staple or the Iowa State Cyclones winning the Fiesta Bowl? As we mentally prepare for the 2021 season ahead, look for any of the following five teams to be way better than expected this fall.
College football teams that will overachieve in 2021
Scouting Report. Michigan Wolverines. player. 811. Pick Analysis. Big Ten. East. 5
An improved defensive staff may be the difference to getting back to relevancy
The Michigan Wolverines were so pathetic a season ago that they did not even win a home game in 2020. Expected to maybe even think about challenging the arch-rival Ohio State Buckeyes, an internal COVID outbreak prevented the latest installment of “The Game” from happening. Simply put, 2020 was a year from hell for the Michigan football program, so 2021 has to be different.
Though we have no belief Jim Harbaugh will ever get the quarterback position right, Michigan overhauling its defensive coaching staff could indicate a better tomorrow for the Wolverines. Harbaugh hired Mike Macdonald away from his older brother’s Baltimore Ravens to be his new defensive coordinator, replacing an ineffective Don Brown. No, Harbaugh was just getting started.
Michigan then went on to add Maurice Linguist formerly of the Dallas Cowboys to be Macdonald’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. The Wolverines retained Shaun Nua to coach the defensive lineman and brought in George Helow to coach the safeties and Brian Jean-Mary to coach the linebackers. Perhaps these wholesale changes will give Michigan a new team identity?
With a fresh five-year extension and a new defensive staff, Michigan should be light years better than it was a year ago. Until proven otherwise, this is a nine or 10-win program at best. However, Michigan has the talent, recruiting base and coaching staff to finish as runner-up in the Big Ten East. If the Wolverines go 10-2 and play Ohio State close, they could be New Year’s Six bound.