Greg McElroy: Michigan is ranked appropriately at No. 9 in preseason AP Top 25
The preseason AP Top 25 Poll is out and it has the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines ranked No. 9 to start the season. That’s the lowest start for a defending national champion since the 2011 Auburn Tigers.
It’s a ranking that many Michigan fans might want to argue. However, as college football analyst Greg McElroy explained on Always College Football, the Wolverines look to be ranked appropriately entering the season.
“One team that is ranked correctly but people are going to be mad about is Michigan,” Greg McElroy said. “Now, a lot of people are really up in arms. Well, Michigan has owned the Big Ten for the last three years, and Michigan has this, and Michigan has that, and their defense, their defense, their defense, their defense, their defensive line, their corner.’ I get all of that. They have good weapons. They have quality pieces along the defensive line. I think they’re really good at all three levels defensively.”
It has been an offseason of turnover for Michigan. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL and much of the staff moved on as well while Sherrone Moore took over at head coach. On top of that, 13 players were then selected in the NFL Draft. So, it’s a new-look team in 2024.
“I think they have a solid offensive line as well, even though a couple of those guys, there are some question marks about that group and whether or not they’ll be as good as they were the last three years. That’s a question mark.”
More important to McElroy is that Michigan has major questions that it needs to answer at the quarterback position. As of now, that’s an unknown and is going to impact the rankings until voters get a better understanding of the Wolverines at that key spot.
“But there’s still questions at quarterback. Like, I don’t know right now if Alex Orji is going to be capable of beating you through the air. I don’t know that. Now, I’ll change my tune in Week 2 against Texas if he starts going out there and lighting them up on incredible throws. If he does that, then sure, we will adjust Michigan where they will need to be adjusted to,” McElroy said.
“But, as of this moment, today…Michigan has major question marks at the biggest position, which is why I think they need to be in the top 12, not the top four. So, we’ll evaluate them but right now they’re appropriately ranked even though I think a lot of Michigan fans are a little frustrated with how they’re being evaluated heading into the season.”
Michigan will have the chance to prove itself and fight for a higher ranking on the field. That starts with an August 31st game against Fresno State.