Sporting News released an article predicting a best & a west case for each college football team in the top 25. Here’s what Bill Bender wrote about the Wolverines:
Best case: Michigan’s young talent blossoms sooner than expected under Jim Harbaugh, and the unveiling is another convincing victory against Florida at Jerry World. Quarterback Wilton Speight builds on last season, the running game is improved with Chris Evans and Rashan Gary evolves into the best defensive player in the Big Ten. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Aubrey Solomon are immediate contributors on offense and defense, respectively. The Wolverines split tough road games at Penn State and Wisconsin but head into the regular-season finale against Ohio State with a chance to clinch the Big Ten East Division — again — in front of a record crowd at the Big House.
Worst case: An over-confident Michigan team loses the opener against Florida, and the youth movement takes longer than expected. Michigan State and Penn State beat the Wolverines, too, and P.J. Fleck almost steals the Little Brown Jug in a near-upset on Nov. 4. Back-to-back losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State close a 7-5 season, and the Harbaugh honeymoon is over heading into an uneasy fourth year in Ann Arbor.
