It’s May and there isn’t a whole lot going on with college football. So it’s that time of the year when outlets start putting together their spring top 25 and fan bases can start over-analyzing where their favorite team may or may not be ranked at.
ESPN recently put out its spring top 25 with an overreaction statement to each of the teams. Michigan came in at No. 13.
Overreaction: The transition from Jim Harbaugh to Sherrone Moore will be seamless.
Moore showed down the stretch, as Michigan’s interim coach last season, that he’s ready to lead the Wolverines. But Michigan lost 13 players to the NFL draft, two more than any other program (ahead of Texas). That included quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who went 10th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
With a new starting quarterback still to be determined, and several new starters on either side of the ball, the reigning national champions could endure some early growing pains at the outset of the Moore era in Ann Arbor
After winning the national title in 2023, the Wolverines aren’t receiving a ton of love. While it’s true Michigan lost every offensive starter but one (Colston Loveland) from a season ago, and the Wolverines lost a few key defensive starters — Michigan does return some big-time talent. The maize and blue return Donovan Edwards, Tyler Morris, Semaj Morgan, Loveland, and the offensive line has plenty of guys that have meaningful playing time. On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan returns Derrick Moore, Josaiah Stewart, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Ernest Hausmann, Will Johnson, Makari Paige — studs.
It’s also true Michigan lost a ton of coaches from a year ago — including Jim Harbaugh and Ben Herbert. While we don’t know how the new coaches will do once game time comes, it does appear that Moore has assembled a really good coaching staff for the new season.
ESPN’s top five teams are:
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Texas
- Notre Dame
