Michigan football listed in top 10 of latest CBS Sports post-spring rankings
Michigan football comes into the 2022 season looking to defend its Big Ten Championship. The schedule sets up nicely, but the rivals will be gunning for them and a new year comes with new challenges.
Despite that, the Wolverines are considered one of the best teams in college football coming out of the spring. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd put out an updated ranking on Thursday with Michigan sitting at No. 6 in the nation.
“Only Jim Harbaugh could interview for an NFL job on National Signing Day, not get the job, retain the class and get an extension with a raise a few days later,” Dodd wrote this week. “That’s an introduction to Year 8 of the Harbaugh regime. Despite the loss of edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, the Wolverines are going to be a hiccup behind Ohio State and possibly a playoff team.”
Michigan’s 12-2 season in 2021 was headlined by a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the College Football Playoff. However, it was a 42-27 win over Ohio State that sent shockwaves through the country and changed the narrative in Ann Arbor. Dodd is predicting a bounceback for the Buckeyes, who rank No. 2.
“The Rose Bowl might have provided us with the top two Heisman contenders: QB C.J. Stroud (573 yards passing, six touchdowns) and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (15 catches, 347 yards),” Dodd wrote. “It certainly provided optimism for 2022. The biggest, huge, mega question is defense. Ryan Day addressed the growing concern by stealing Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State as defensive coordinator. That will be the difference between a Big Ten title and a playoff run.”
What’s up with Michigan’s other rival, the rest of Big Ten?
The Michigan State Spartans delivered Michigan’s only regular-season loss in 2021, head coach Mel Tucker’s second victory in two tries in the series. Dodd predicts the Spartans stay in the mix, coming into the season at No. 16.
“Mel Tucker reset the market with that monster new contract,” Dodd said. “That’s what 11 wins, beating Michigan and winning a New Year’s Six bowl game will get you. (Actually the $95 million, 10-year deal was signed in late November before that 11th win.) Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger and Colorado transfer Jarek Broussard will try to replace Kenneth Walker III in the backfield.”
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Wisconsin, who Michigan will not play for the first time in six seasons, was next up in the pecking order. Dodd has them ranked 19th in the land.
“Wash, rinse, repeat for the Badgers,” he said. “They will contend in the Big Ten West with a big, physical offense. However, QB Graham Mertz needs to rebound. Jim Leonhard’s defense gets a huge boost from UCLA transfer cornerback Jay Shaw.”
Last but not least was Penn State, which sits at No. 24. Head coach James Franklin is 11-11 over the past two seasons, but the Nittany Lions stayed committed with a huge new contract for the head coach.
“The season went south when QB Sean Clifford went down against Iowa,” Dodd said. “Clifford is back which might be the difference in the always-tough Big Ten East. James Franklin — 11-11 the last two seasons — has security with a new 10-year contract.”
When does the season get underway?
Michigan kicks off its 2022 campaign on Sept. 3 with Colorado State coming to the Big House. Kickoff time for that contest has not been set. Big Ten play opens on Sept. 24 with Maryland traveling to Michigan Stadium. The rivalry games against Michigan State (home) and Ohio State (away) are set for Oct. 29 and Nov. 26, respectively.
