Athlon Sports projects Michigan football to finish as top 10 team in 2022
Athlon Sports released its top 25 rankings ahead of the 2022 season, and Michigan Wolverines football checked in top 10. Per the site’s Steven Lassan, the rankings are not a list of the best teams heading into the season, but rather a projection of where teams will finish after the national championship in January.
Michigan was slotted No. 6, meaning the Wolverines are viewed as a College Football Playoff contender but one that ultimately gets left out of the four-team field. Lassan explained that the race for the No. 4 spot was tight, with Clemson slightly edging out Michigan, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8 Utah and No. 9 USC.
Defending national runner-up Alabama slotted No. 1, followed by No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Georgia, the defending national champion. The Buckeyes’ positioning at No. 2 likely means Lassan and Co. have them winning the Big Ten title, after finishing second in the East Division in 2021.
Five Big Ten teams made the top 25, with Michigan State ranking 14th, Wisconsin slotting 19th and Penn State checking in 25th.
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Michigan enjoyed a successful season in 2021, winning the Big Ten title and making its first appearance in the College Football Playoff. With seven players who started over half the team’s games coming back on offense, the Wolverines are set up to pick up where they left off on that side of the ball. The defense is set to replace seven starters, including three top-50 NFL Draft picks, so that remains the biggest challenge.
“Coming off a breakthrough year that resulted in a win over Ohio State, the program’s first Big Ten title since 2004, and a trip to the CFB Playoff, Michigan has a few major question marks to address — but also plenty of returning pieces to suggest another run at the top four is within reach,” Lassan wrote.
“The personnel turnover is greater on defense with the departure of ends Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, linebacker Josh Ross and defensive backs Dax Hill, Brad Hawkins and Vincent Gray. Also, coordinator Mike Macdonald returned to the NFL, prompting coach Jim Harbaugh to hire Jesse Minter — also a former Baltimore assistant similar to Macdonald — as the team’s new signal-caller.
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“With the defense under renovation, Michigan’s offense is the strength of the ’22 squad. However, there is a big change on the staff, as Josh Gattis left for Miami, with Matt Weiss and Sherrone Moore taking over the play-calling and co-coordinator duties. [Sophomore] J.J. McCarthy and [senior] Cade McNamara give the offense two very capable quarterbacks, and [sophomore] Donovan Edwards and [junior] Blake Corum should rank among the nation’s best running back duos.
The Wolverines have plenty of capable receivers, including [graduate] Ronnie Bell returning from injury, [senior] Cornelius Johnson, [sophomore] Andrel Anthony, [junior] Roman Wilson and [senior] tight end Erick All. Two starters depart a standout offensive line, but the arrival of [Olusegun] Oluwatimi (from Virginia) at center should ensure the drop-off is minimal.
“The Big Ten East is likely to be decided in The Game versus Ohio State. However, even if Michigan falls short in that matchup, 11-1 might be good enough for this team to make the playoff again.”
Lassan named the following contests ‘key games’ for Michigan: at Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Nebraska and at Ohio State. He also tabbed Oluwatimi and graduate defensive tackle Cam Goode as ‘key incoming transfers.’ Those are the only two players Michigan has picked up from the portal this offseason.
