College Football: Is it finally Michigan’s year?

Since the arrival of Jim Harbaugh in 2015 the expectations of Michigan Football has been through the roof. Harbaugh was the engineer of a rebuilding project at Stanford that was built on toughness, physicality, and man ball with the culmination being an Orange bowl victory in 2010. Stanford, a perennial bottom feeder in the Pac-12 was now reaching new heights marked by a 12-1 record and number four overall ranking. The anticipation was that Harbaugh would build Michigan in similar fashion. Use his bullying style of offense through the Big Ten in route to multiple Big Ten titles, Rose Bowls, and College Football appearances. Although Michigan has been successful (38-14, twenty-one players drafted) it has zero appearances in the Big Ten title game, one top ten finish, and what’s worse is an 0-4 record against Ohio State. This year, however, the year that Michigan breaks through the Ohio State barrier is, wins the Big Ten and earns a spot in the College Football playoff.

This year the stars align has Michigan’s biggest rival Ohio State lost Urban Meyer, a favorable schedule, returning Quarterback, a new offensive coordinator to breathe life into a stagnate offense, returning offensive line, and another year of incredible defense.

To start, Harbaugh’s nemesis Urban Meyer has retired from Ohio State. (Conspiracy theory alert: I believe that Ohio State told Meyer to retire at the end of the season due to the backlash over keeping Zach Smith on staff). Meyer is one of the greatest College Football coaches of all time and leaving will surely leave a power vacuum in the Big Ten. The schedule will also play another factor. Michigan has two difficult road games: September 21st at Wisconsin (very winnable), and October 19th at Penn State (difficult place to play, but Michigan has the talent edge and a returning quarterback). Michigan has Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State in the Big House.

In addition to the schedule and the loss of Urban Meyer; Harbaugh has for the first time during his tenure a returning quarterback in Shea Patterson. Last season began a shift in offense paradigm for Harbaugh and it started with Patterson. Gone was the traditional Pro-Style offenses that emphasized size, power, under center formations, multiple tight ends, and full-backs. Now Michigan sports shotgun and pistol formations with multiple wide receivers. With new Offensive Coordinator Josh Gattis coming over from Alabama during the offseason; Michigan has fully implemented a spread offense focused on RPO’s utilizing Patterson history has a spread quarterback to fully maximize his potential. Going along with a returning Quarterback and fully committing to the spread. Michigan returns four starters along the offensive line which will allow Gattis to control the line of scrimmage on offense. Another much-underrated aspect is the continuity of offensive line coach Ed Warriner.

Much like Alabama and Clemson can replace defensive stars Michigan has been able to replace multiple first-round picks and field a top-five defensive unit. In terms of defensive coordinators, Don Brown is one of the best and his history of producing excellent defenses cannot be underestimated. All of these factors will propel Michigan into the College Football Playoff.