Why expectations are different within Michigan's program entering 2023 season
Heading into the 2021 college football season, Michigan fans just wanted to finally snap their losing streak vs. rival Ohio State and maybe compete for their first College Football Playoff appearance under Jim Harbaugh. Well, they did both in 2021 and in 2022, which each ended in a semifinal CFP loss. Heading into 2023, Wolverine fans will no longer be satisfied with merely beating OSU and making the CFP. It’s time to do some damage in January.
Over on the On3 YouTube Channel, JD PicKell broke down that angst among the Michigan fanbase. He believes the UM fans have justifiably raised expectations. After knocking on the door of the title game for two years, it’s just time to kick it in. So check out his assessment on why the Michigan program and its supporters ought to have championship-or-bust aspirations for this coming fall:
JD PicKell says it’s title or bust for Michigan
“The thing that has to be talked about, when it comes to the differences for Michigan going into this year, it’s the expectations. And maybe the expectations aren’t changing internally, but I think they got to be talked about. Because we so frequently, for the last couple years before that game in 2021, where you beat Ohio State in Ann Arbor, we talked about…if they could just beat Ohio State. Thinking… just win the Big Ten. I think probably some people in Ann Arbor thought that way too. If we could just beat Ohio State and get over that hump, that would be good enough. Well now, it’s not good enough. It’s expected that’s the price of admission.
“Now, in Ann Arbor, the expectation, the goal, the prize is: win a National Title. Like we talked about at the top of this video, that is the goal: National Championship or bust. That is the goal and that is the difference with how you’re viewing this team and how you’re assessing success on the outside. But I guarantee you on the inside too. I mean, Blake Corum grabbed the mic at a basketball game and said, ‘we’re coming for a national title.’ I’m paraphrasing, but he said something to that effect.
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“That is what else. That is what is on everybody’s mind. JJ McCarthy was fired up after the College Football Playoff loss to TCU. You can see the emotion, and it wasn’t just JJ McCarthy, it was across the board. Like, the mission is very clear, the mission is very clear: bring home a national title to Ann Arbor. Anything else is unacceptable and is not good enough. And that is an exciting place to be, because you have earned that kind of expectation, you have earned that kind of pressure that people are putting on you.
“But don’t just sort of stroll into a year and say ‘we’re gonna win a national title’ and not have anything to show for it leading up to it. You’ve built to this, if you’re Michigan, and you got a lot of pieces back. Your top five returning production-wise across the board. This is the year for Michigan to bring home the hardware they really want. So I’m excited to watch it, but the offensive flexibility is going to contribute to it. The external feel around mission is going to be different. Never changed internally, they’re after a national title this year, that’s how you’re judging success. I can’t wait to watch it.”