Predicting the win total ceiling, floor for Michigan in 2024
During the latest episode of Andy Staples On3 on YouTube, Andy Staples and On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire took some time to name the ceiling and floor for each Big Ten team in 2024.
One of the teams they decided to focus on early on is the Michigan Wolverines. As they defend their dominance moving into a new era, both Staples and Bellaire believe Sherrone Moore will have a chance to prove his mettle in 2024.
“It’s gonna be fascinating to watch,” Staples said, regarding the Big Ten. “And I think we should start with the most fascinating team, because there’s so much still in flux. The defending national champion Michigan Wolverines.
“Jim Harbaugh is gone. J.J. McCarthy is gone. Blake Corum is gone. Roman Wilson is gone. But Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are still there, in the middle of your defense. Will Johnson is your No. 1 corner, and pretty much everyone else’s number one corner too. Colston Loveland is considered the best tight end in college football. Like, this is a very interesting team because yes, they won the national title and lost a ton of draft picks. But they still have some premium, top end talent.”
While there’s sweeping change in Ann Arbor, both Staples and Bellaire believe Michigan can still get to the College Football Playoff next season.
Ceiling: Making the College Football Playoff, Advancing
“So I have their ceiling as make the College Football Playoff and advance,” Staples revealed. “I don’t have them as a national championship contender, necessarily. Is that fair or unfair?”
Of course, Bellaire agrees, stating that he believes the Wolverines will reveal what kind of team they are early on in the season, with their intense schedule.
“I think that’s completely fair,” Bellaire responded. “I think you need to see them prove it on paper. I think that’s completely fair.
“I believe, Week 2, we’ll have a really good idea of who this Michigan team is going to be. But I think to your point, the ceiling has to be make the Playoff. Are they a national championship contender? Not necessarily.”
Floor: 8-4
As for the floor, Staples harkened back to Michigan’s schedule, believing the amount of contenders in the Big Ten could work against the Big Ten.
“8-4,” Staples responded, asked what the floor is for Michigan. “I still think they’re going to be a very good team. The problem is, they get Oregon. They get Ohio State. They get Texas. So if you are not, like if this stuff doesn’t come together, if the offense doesn’t work the way you want it to, you’re going to lose those three games, and probably one more, is the way I’m looking at it.”
Once again, Bellaire agreed with he sentiment, but he did offer up some added optimism for the Wolverines in 2024.
“I have it the exact same way,” Bellaire added. “I think that, there’s a world in which Michigan could technically start 2-2. You lose to Texas. You get to see USC for the first time, and that offense. And if USC gets on your early on, and you’re forced to play catch up football. If you’re Michigan. That’s not a great sign, especially early on in the season. So I have it the same way.
“I think the floor is 8-4. Realistically, this is a team that could go 9-3, and maybe squeak into the College Football Playoff.”
Alas, it’ll be up to Michigan to make good on their back-to-back aspirations. We’ll see if Sherrone Moore can get the job done during his first season as the unquestioned leader in Ann Arbor.