Desmond Howard explains why 2023 is Michigan's best shot at a CFP championship

Desmond Howard believes 2023 will be the best version of Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines we’ve seen yet.

During a Friday morning appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, Howard explained why this season is Michigan’s best shot at a championship under Harbaugh thus far, and why it all starts with quarterback JJ McCarthy.

“I’ll tell you what, when you look at these college football teams, especially the ones who win national titles, it all starts with an exceptional quarterback,” Howard explained. “I think that Michigan has one in JJ McCarthy. I mean, this young man, if you watch him play, you understand that he can make all the throws. He’s a very selfless player. The reason I say he’s selfless is because he just runs the offense. Which mean turning to the right, turning to the left. Hand the ball to Blake [Corum], hand the ball to Donovan [Edwards], and he was cool with that. But when they needed him to throw the ball down the field and make some plays vertical, he was able to deliver.

“So I think it starts with the quarterback, and he has a very talented running back room. The best running back room in college football. They bring back a very strong defense. They have some talented tight ends. This is probably, just looking at the quarterback position and then going down, I would think that you would say this is Michigan’s best team under Jim Harbaugh.”

Alas, it’s easy to see why Michigan has so many believers entering 2023, but it’ll be up to the Wolverines to make good on those predictions. Time will tell if they can, or if they end up with unfulfilled potential this season.

Bruce Feldman predicts Jim Harbaugh will win national championship, leave for NFL

Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh vs. the NCAA saga took another turn when Michigan self-imposed a three-game suspension as part of the investigation process. Harbaugh is at the center of an inquiry regarding recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the process will extend beyond the season as the NCAA continues to look into the situation.

As the Wolverines’ season opener approaches, the question is already coming up about what Harbaugh could do after the season given the looming penalty. In fact, The Athleticand FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman logged a bold prediction about not only what Michigan might do on the field, but what Harbaugh could do afterward.

“I think you also have a case, to be quite honest, where Jim Harbaugh has flirted with the NFL and last year, certainly with the Broncos. I think he wins a national title and rides off into the sunset and some NFL team grabs him,” Harbaugh said on The Rich Eisen Show.“And then, he’s just like, ‘See you, NCAA. I don’t care what you do.’”

Rumors connecting Jim Harbaugh to the NFL have come up the last two offseasons, notably involving the Minnesota Vikings and the Broncos. Ultimately, though, he opted to stay at Michigan both times — although the question doesn’t seem to be going away.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.