Phil Steele projects Michigan football to make third straight playoff

Published Jul. 10, 2023, 10:00 a.m. By Aaron McMann Count Phil Steele among the college football prognosticators who believe in Michigan again this fall. The editor of the popular college football preview magazine, on sale now, ranks the Wolverines No. 3 in his preseason poll — behind only Georgia at No. 1 and Clemson at No. 2, a prediction that Jim Harbaugh’s team will qualify for a third straight College Football Playoff appearance. “My Power Poll has the Wolverines No. 2 in the Big Ten in talent, but it is close and they have a much better schedule,” Steele writes. “Jim Harbaugh is now 2-1 vs. Ryan Day and the Wolverines get “The Game” at home in the Big House.” Steele predicts that Michigan will be favored in nearly every game it plays this fall, with its Nov. 11 game at Penn State “a tossup.” “They are the only prime contender with a veteran QB and not only do all eight (position) groups rank in my top units, but five of them are in the top 7 of the country,” Steele continues. “The Wolverines are No. 7 on my Experience Chart. The question is, will this be the year they win a playoff game?” Michigan is 0-2 in back-to-back playoff appearances, dropping semi-final round games to Georgia and Texas Christian, and 1-6 in bowl games under Harbaugh. Steele forecasts the Wolverines to finish in a first-place tie atop the Big Ten’s East Division with Ohio State, suggesting a slip-up could occur earlier in the season. Five players were named to Steele’s preseason All-American teams, with running back Blake Corum and offensive guard Zak Zinter both considered first-team selections. Linebacker Junior Colson (second), defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (third) and running back Donovan Edwards (fourth) were included in the list, giving Michigan the No. 1 running-back unit in the country, per Steele. “Last year I called for an 11-0 vs. 11-0 battle with Ohio State,” Steele writes, describing Michigan’s stunning comeback win over the Buckeyes in Columbus. (He predicted Ohio State to win that game, by the way.) “Eight of my 9 sets of power ratings call for Michigan to beat OSU at home and win the Big Ten,” Steele said. “This team is hungry to break through and win a national title and have the schedule and talent to accomplish that.” As for position battles, Steele projections LaDarius Henderson (left) and Karsen Barnhart (right) to win the starting jobs at tackle, Drake Nugent to get the nod at center, and Amorion Walker to start opposite Will Johnson at cornerback.