Phil Steele predicts Michigan will make 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024: 'They could be dangerous'
Michigan Wolverines football has won the Big Ten the last three seasons and is coming off the 2023 national championship. However, the Maize and Blue are not the favorite to win the conference heading into 2024, after losing 13 players to the NFL Draft and most of their coaching staff, including head man Jim Harbaugh. New head man Sherrone Moore still has a lot to work with, though, and experts are predicting the Wolverines to compete near the top of the league.
In his annual college football preview magazine, Phil Steele predicted the order of finish in the Big Ten, placing Michigan fourth behind Ohio State and Oregon (tied first) and Penn State. Steele believes the Buckeyes and Ducks will face off in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title.
“Last year, eight of my nine sets of power ratings called for Michigan to beat Ohio State at home and win the Big Ten title, and the Wolverines did just that, winning their third straight Big Ten title and after two early exits in the playoff, won the national title,” Steele wrote of Michigan.
“That was a veteran team (No. 7 in experience chart) that drops to No. 117 this year with just seven returning starters (lost 13 NFL [draft picks]). They also lose head coach Jim Harbaugh, and every indicator is pointing down. They play Ohio State in Columbus and host Oregon (and Texas in non-conference play) but avoid Penn State and are still a contender in the Big Ten.”
As mentioned, Michigan is No. 117 in the nation in experience, per Steele, which stands second-to-last among 18 Big Ten teams, with only Washington (No. 132) checking in lower.
The Wolverines do have high-end talent that remains, though, and Steele recognizes that. He placed three Michigan players on his preseason All-America first team — junior tight end Colston Loveland, junior cornerback Will Johnson and graduate long snapper William Wagner. Junior defensive tackle Mason Graham (second team) was also listed by Steele.
“They remain one of the best teams in the country and could still get back to the playoff,” Steele wrote.
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Steele has Michigan as a top-12 team in his power ratings, ranking right at No. 12. But in his preseason top 40, which is his predicted order of finish and factors in schedule, he has the Wolverines even higher at No. 9, meaning he projects they will earn a College Football Playoff bid.
“They host Texas and Oregon and play Ohio State on the road, but they still have one of the top defenses in the country and cannot be counted out, especially if a quarterback develops this year and they get into the postseason, they could be dangerous,” Steele wrote.
The teams ahead of Michigan are No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Alabama and No. 8 Utah.
Michigan players on preseason All-Big Ten teams from Phil Steele
Here are the Michigan players who earned preseason All-Big Ten honors from Steele:
First team: Junior TE Colston Loveland, junior DT Mason Graham, junior LB Jaishawn Barham, junior CB Will Johnson, graduate LS William Wagner
Second team: Senior RB Donovan Edwards, senior P Tommy Doman
Third team: Graduate OL Josh Priebe, junior DT Kenneth Grant
Fourth team: Senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart
Phil Steele predicts order of finish in Big Ten for 2024
Here’s Steele’s full Big Ten forecast with predicted order of finish:
1. Ohio State
1. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. USC
7. Nebraska
8. Rutgers
9. Wisconsin
10. Maryland
11. Washington
12. Indiana
13. Illinois
14. UCLA
15. Minnesota
16. Northwestern
17. Purdue
17. Michigan State
