Where Michigan stands in 2024 way-too-early college football rankings

Michigan Wolverines football returned home to Ann Arbor Tuesday night and will host a Saturday parade following its 15-0 national championship season. While the Maize and Blue are on cloud nine, the rest of college football is working to one day get there.

Michigan will have the chance to repeat its title next season, which begins with a game against Fresno State Aug. 31 — 234 days from now. Many across the college football world are already looking ahead to this coming fall, with numerous media outlets releasing ‘way-too-early’ top-25 rankings.

Rounding up nine sets of way-too-early rankings, Michigan checks in as high as three (by both CBS Sports and USA Today) and only as low as sixth (by The Athletic, ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated). The Wolverines’ average rank is 4.4, and six of the nine publications slotted them No. 4 or higher. Six of nine rankings also had the Maize and Blue as the top-ranked Big Ten team.

CBS Sports: No. 3

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Texas, No. 8 Missouri, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 10 Arizona

Big Ten: No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Oregon, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 15 Washington, No. 16 Penn State

Dennis Dodd: “Disclaimer: This ranking is based on what we know the day after the national title game. Jim Harbaugh is still the coach. He is poised to land the No. 15 recruiting class. [Junior quarterback] J.J. McCarthy has a decision to make, but with or without Coach Khaki, the Wolverines aren’t going to slide much.”

USA Today: No. 3

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 10 LSU

Big Ten: No. 3 Michigan, No. 7 Oregon, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 15 Penn State, No. 17 Washington, No. 19 USC, No. 24 Iowa

Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith: “This is based on Jim Harbaugh returning in 2024, which might not be a sure thing given the chance he returns to the NFL. But with Harbaugh and quarterback J.J. McCarthy potentially back in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines will bring back the two big pieces behind this year’s run. Michigan will need to rebuild the offensive line and running back position and replace several defensive starters but has proven adept at finding key contributors in the transfer portal.”

Sporting News: No. 4

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Washington, No. 10 Florida State

Big Ten: No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 9 Washington, No. 15 Penn State, No. 21 USC

Bill Bender: “This might seem high given the uncertainty swirling in Ann Arbor with coach Jim Harbaugh given the NFL and two NCAA ongoing investigations are in the forefront. J.J. McCarthy has not made an NFL decision, and there will be heavy losses to the 2024 NFL Draft. Michigan did get Northwestern tackle Josh Priebe and Maryland linebacker Jaishawn Barham in the transfer portal, and there is enough talent to make a run at a fourth Big Ten championship depending on who stays. The schedule is absurd with Texas (Sept. 7), USC (Sept. 21) and Oregon (Nov. 2) coming to the Big House and road trips to Washington (Oct. 5) and Ohio State (Nov. 30).”

Yahoo Sports: No. 4

Top 10: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Missouri, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 10 Penn State

Big Ten: No. 4 Michigan, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 10 Penn State, No. 12 Washington, No. 20 Iowa, No. 23 Wisconsin

Dan Wetzel: “We reserve the right to move Michigan down if Jim Harbaugh bolts for the NFL. The Wolverines have done a fantastic job of replacing players who head to the NFL and we expect nothing less in 2024 even though Michigan will be replacing [senior] RB Blake Corum and likely QB J.J. McCarthy. [Sophomore] Alex Orji is McCarthy’s successor and success will once again be predicated on a strong run game and defense. We do have a hesitation about the schedule, however. Michigan has Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon and Ohio State on tap along with a Week 1 game against a feisty Fresno State team.”

Pro Football Focus: No. 4

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 Missouri, No. 10 Arizona

Big Ten: No. 4 Michigan, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Penn State, No. 15 Washington, No. 20 USC,

Max Chadwick: “There might not be a more volatile team on this list than Michigan. Depending on how the next week shakes out, the Wolverines can move up to as high as No. 1 on this list or drop out of the top five altogether. 

“Both head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback J.J. McCarthy have massive decisions to make as to whether they should return to Ann Arbor or move to the NFL. If they both leave, which is looking increasingly likely, those are two massive holes that will be difficult to replace. However, the Wolverines still have some star players returning regardless in [sophomore] cornerback Will Johnson, [sophomore] interior defensive lineman Mason Graham and tight end Colston Loveland.”

Athlon Sports: No. 4

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 8 Missouri, No. 9 Penn State, No. 10 Notre Dame

Big Ten: No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 9 Penn State, No. 18 Washington, No. 20 USC, No. 24 Iowa

Steve Lassan: “The Wolverines are going to lose a ton of key contributors from the ’23 team and coach Jim Harbaugh could take a job in the NFL. But for now, Michigan ranks high on this list for the potential of quarterback J.J. McCarthy returning, as well as a defense that features elite cornerback Will Johnson and standout linemen [sophomore] Kenneth Grant, [sophomore] Derrick Moore, and [sophomore] Mason Graham.”

The Athletic: No. 6

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Washington, No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 10 Clemson

Big Ten: No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Washington, No. 18 Penn State, No. 22 Iowa

Stewart Mandel: “Consider this a place-holder ranking, given the uncertainty surrounding [head coach] Jim Harbaugh and roughly a dozen players with NFL decisions. For now, let’s assume QB J.J. McCarthy, RB Blake Corum and possibly [junior] RB Donovan Edwards leave. Michigan will also lose at least four O-line starters.

“Star DB Mike Sainristil and LB Michael Barrett are gone, while DT Kris Jenkins and possibly LB Junior Colson will turn pro. But the defense should still be stellar behind CB Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham, LB Ernest Hausmann and S Rod Moore.”

ESPN.com: No. 6

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 8 Missouri, No. 9 Arizona, No. 10 Notre Dame

Big Ten: No. 3 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio state, No. 6 Michigan, No. 11 Washington, No. 12 Penn State, No. 25 Iowa

Mark Schlabach: “After returning to the CFP for the third straight year, there will be a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Michigan program heading into the offseason. Will coach Jim Harbaugh sign a contract extension at his alma mater or jump back to the NFL? The Wolverines have already received a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding alleged recruiting violations and there’s a separate NCAA investigation into the program’s alleged sign stealing. Harbaugh might face another suspension in 2024 if he returns. On the field, the Wolverines are going to lose a boatload of talent, especially if McCarthy and Edwards leave for the NFL draft. The offensive line will have to be rebuilt and key pieces will also have to be replaced on defense. The Wolverines play one of the most difficult schedules in the FBS next season with home games against Texas, USC and Oregon and road games at Washington and Ohio State.”

Sports Illustrated: No. 6

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Mississippi State, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Missouri, No. 10 Arizona

Big Ten: No. 2 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 11 Penn State, No. 15 Washington, No. 25 USC

Pat Forde: “This is the hardest team to predict for 2024. Will Jim Harbaugh still be the coach? Will he be suspended for more games? Is J.J. McCaffrey heading to the NFL? A long list of star Wolverines is definitely going pro, but cornerback Will Johnson should spearhead another excellent Michigan defense. The schedule is wild, with games against Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon and Ohio State.”