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Cheating or not,  it's hard to remember the last time the Big Ten had a team that dominated the stats so completely as Michigan has this year.

With that said,  it will be interesting how Michigan finishes the season.  Until a couple years ago, Harbaugh had a history of looking strong at mid-season,  then fizzle down the stretch.  The last couple years they found a way to finish strong, unless you count the playoff games.

Big test coming on Nov 11 when Michigan travels to PSU. If Michigan blows out PSU like they have been doing to other teams, you may have to concede Michigan is doing something special.

Jeem just flat out has the deepest, most talented, and most experienced roster this year that he's ever had at Michigan.

It's not that hard to figure out. JJ McCarthy is LIGHT years better than any QB he's ever had at Michigan. Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards are LIGHT years better than any RB's Jeem has ever had at Michigan. His starting 5 at OL is all 4th and 5th year players who have started A LOT of football games. Colston Loveland will be the best TE to ever play at Michigan when he's all said and done. All due respect Jake Butt. AJ Barner from Indiana from the portal has been way better than even I thought he would be. They are loaded at DT with Kris Jenkins, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Rayshaun Benny. Everyone of those d-tackles is a future NFL draft pick. They are 4 deep at EDGE. They have two starting ILB's that are going to probably be 2nd rd NFL draft picks in Junior Colson and Ernest Hausmann (thanks Nebraska!). Will Johnson is LIGHT years better than any CB that Jeem has ever had at Michigan- that kid is a future top 5 NFL draft pick. FS Rod Moore is easily the best FS that Jeem has ever had in his time at Michigan.

Simply put this is just the most talented team he's ever had- and they are experienced. These guys have played/started A LOT of games. Michigan was 4th or 5th in all of P5 in terms of returning production in 2023 from the 2022 season.

Michigan has at times looked unbeatable under Harbaugh until they very much looked beatable, so I temper my expectations with them somewhat. But they are plenty good. 

Cheating or not,  it's hard to remember the last time the Big Ten had a team that dominated the stats so completely as Michigan has this year.

With that said,  it will be interesting how Michigan finishes the season.  Until a couple years ago, Harbaugh had a history of looking strong at mid-season,  then fizzle down the stretch.  The last couple years they found a way to finish strong, unless you count the playoff games.

Big test coming on Nov 11 when Michigan travels to PSU. If Michigan blows out PSU like they have been doing to other teams, you may have to concede Michigan is doing something special.

I just can't shake the feeling that PSU isn't really that good.  They play well, they're in the right places at the right times, but I don't even trust their defense to slow down a great offense. 

Ohio State I like much more.  If Michigan runs wild on the Buckeye defense, there can't be any question.



....any question that they still have their signals

I just can't shake the feeling that PSU isn't really that good.  They play well, they're in the right places at the right times, but I don't even trust their defense to slow down a great offense. 

Ohio State I like much more.  If Michigan runs wild on the Buckeye defense, there can't be any question.



....any question that they still have their signals

I'm with you on Penn State. While I do think their defense is really good, James Franklin is still the coach unfortunately and that offense is pretty bad. The OL is very questionable, Allar has zero weapons outside to help him out and he is still basically a rookie trying to figure things out and not a polished seasoned vet. 

Last part made me LOL.

Michigan looked pretty good last year in 2022 but they still had their Illinois game where they needed a last minute field goal to win.  Funny things can happen in November.

very true. A quarter of the season left and anything can happen.

At the same time, that game wouldn't have been close if Corum didn't tear his meniscus in the first half. Corum was dealing had over 100 yards rushing in the first half. Donovan Edwards was also out that game with a hand injury, so in the 2nd half they had neither of their top RBs. And JJ was flat out not the same QB last year that he is this year.

JJ was a 19 year old true soph last year that had a shoulder injury which caused him to miss all of spring ball last year and when he got back for fall camp he was in a QB battle and splitting reps with 1's with Cade- a battle which lasted into the 3rd week of that season. He also got zero 1 reps in bowl practices his frosh year as Cade was the starter.

JJ put on 10 pounds of muscle, his shoulder is 100%, had 12-13 starts under his belt, had an entire bowl practice of getting all the 1 reps, an entire spring ball of getting all the 1 reps, an entire fall camp of getting all the 1 reps. He's just far more experienced and a lot better than he was a year ago.

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Penn State
4. Iowa
5. Wisconsin
6. Rutgers
7. Nebraska
8. Northwestern
9. Minnesota
10. Illinois
11. Maryland
12. Purdue
13. Indiana
14. Michigan State

Updated SOR/SP+ playoff

• #1 OHIO STATE vs. #4 Alabama
• #2 Florida State vs. #3 Washington

Under the 2024 12 team format

• #9 Oklahoma at #8 Ole Miss; winner vs. #1 OHIO STATE
• #10 Oregon at #7 MICHIGAN; winner vs. #2 Florida State
• #11 PENN STATE at #6 Texas; winner vs. #3 Washington
• #12 James Madison at #5 Georgia; winner vs. #4 Alabama

Hmmmm....

I guess in 2024 James Madison would be a full FBS member but I believe in 2023 JMU still has one transition year left and is not bowl Elligible in 2023 unless not enough teams qualify to be bowl Elligible. 

Also there is that whole weird question of what happens to the 12-team playoff in 2024 if the PAC disappears and WSU and Ore St end up in the MWC/PAC merger.

You know what,  never mind.  Forget I asked.