ESPN College GameDay crew analyzes Michigan, debates national championship hopes

After a three-week self-imposed staycation, Jim Harbaugh returned to the sidelines for Michigan to begin Big Ten play — and the Wolverines haven’t skipped a beat.

ESPN’s College GameDay crew collectively agreed that this Michigan team is different than any Harbaugh has had before, but are they looking like the best team in the country? Only time will tell if the Wolverines can claim its first national title since 1997, but Michigan legend Desmond Howard is a high as ever on his alma mater.

“The first three games, Jim Harbaugh isn’t there. Obviously, coaching by committee, now I think Michigan football is starting to look like Michigan football,” Howard said on College GameDay. “The Rutgers game, and then last week against Nebraska, they really started to catch fire offensively, so I think that Michigan is looking like the 2023 version of the Wolverines because Jim Harbaugh is back on the sidelines.”

Even without Harbaugh on the sidelines, they were winning decisively. They’ve scored at least 30 points in every game this season, have yet to allow more than 7 points defensively, and their lowest margin of victory was 24 points against Rutgers.

Only Florida State in 1993 and Alabama in 1979 have started their seasons like this over the last century, according to Rece Davis. If they take care of business against Minnesota, they’ll tie 1971’s Nebraska team for the longest streak of victories in that fashion in college football history. All three went on to win national championships

“It feels like [Michigan] is a better version to what they were last year when, obviously, they made it to the College Football Playoff,” GameDay co-host Pat McAfee said. “The defense is only giving up six points per game. Blake Corum has nine touchdowns and has scored in every game. JJ McCarthy is doing his thing.

“The finish of their season, Penn State, Maryland then Ohio State is going to tell the tape, but this particular team, I feel, is even better than the team last year somehow, and the adversity at the beginning because of Harbaugh and the hamburger, self-imposed suspension. I think that builds up a bit of adversity and makes them a bit more mature.”

Kirk Herbstreit rounded out the conversation by calling the Wolverines unique in the current landscape of college football. Tried and tested, he called this Michigan team seasoned and a team full of veterans.

After suffering heartbreak against TCU in last season’s CFP, not to mention the semifinal loss the year before, returning players are sick of coming up just short. That’s perfect motivation for them heading into that backstretch of schedule.

“This team walks to 9-0 until Nov. 11 when they go to Happy Valley and ending the year against Ohio State,” Herbstreit said. “They keep playing games, they keep winning games, they keep getting better but it’s all about peaking in November.”