NCAA.com Pre-Season Football Top 25, Michigan at 6
NCAA.com released it's pre-season Top 25. Michigan is ranked 6th. (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2019-07-02/college-football-rankings-preseason-top-25-2019-season)
- Clemson
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- LSU
- Florida
- Texas
- Notre Dame
- Texas A&M
- Oregon
- Penn State
- Washington
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- Auburn
- Iowa
- UCF
- Nebraska
- Virginia Tech
- Michigan State
- Missouri
- Northwestern
- Boise State
I'm not a big believer in Clemson being #1 this season. They lost 5 great players on defense to the NFL draft. They don't exactly have a tough schedule. So they could go 12-0 anyway. But I'm expecting them to lose to Texas A&M. Texas A&M nearly beat them last year. Clemson's strength of schedule may work against them a little, especially since Texas A&M could end up with 2 to 3 losses--that is, if Texas A&M beats them.
I'm not sure Ohio St belongs at #3. I'm not sure Ryan Day will be able to live up to that.
Auburn at #17. It looks like they don't have things spelling well for Gus Malzahn. It's standing room only for coaches in that conference.
Michigan St at 22. Seems they aren't believers in Michigan St's offense this season. Though being in the Top 25 is still very good.
Conspicuously absent from the Top 25 is USC. Should we be ready to see Urban Meyer to be hired as USC's head coach for next season?
Last season a composite of 16 different Pre-Season polls had Michigan at #11. (https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/8/30/17770364/college-football-rankings-top-25-preseason-poll)
Michigan finished the 2018 season at #14. The 2018 AP Pre-Season Poll actually had Michigan at #14. (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2791037-ap-preseason-poll-2018-complete-college-football-rankings-released)
There'll be a flurry of Pre-Season polls over the next 4 weeks. They all should have Michigan ranked higher than last season. All should have them in at least the Top 8.
I didn't realize the NCAA had their own poll. How long have they done that? Seems like a bit of a conflict of interest. Or is this essentially the BCS playoff selection poll, preseason edition? If so I would prefer they would base that on actual games played.
It's just the authors opinion, it's not a poll. Andy Katz does basketball rankings for their site. It's just for entertainment purposes.
ok, thanks. Still think it's a bit odd for them to have a poll, but maybe that's just me.
It's...not a poll.
I agree with OSU being ahead of Michigan. Until Michigan starts beating them, they deserve to be ranked higher than us
That’s not really how polls work, but ok.
Yet year after year they’re better than us regardless of poll starting position.
Im fine with them starting ahead of us especially given the talent disparity
Tell me more about this talent disparity. I would guess that Michigan is better at LG, C, RG, QB, TE and at least one of the WR spots. That's over half of the offense. I'll also go out on a limb and say that Michigan's back-up QB is better than OSU's starter.
It's probably a little harder to tell on Defense but Michigan probably leads at one CB and one S position. I'm also at least comfortable with all positions on the DL.
I just don't see a huge disparity in starting talent on the two teams.
The starting talent is somewhat equal but it's their depth that has us beat. It's easier for them to replace an injury or transfer and also rotate players in and out throughout the game.
I agree with OSU being ahead of Michigan. Until Michigan starts beating them, they deserve to be ranked higher than us
No pre-season polls till we beat OSU.
Fire the Preseason Polls!!!
I don't associate the past with the present when the teams are different. Believing that any team "deserves anything in a new season is to concede your teams future.
Showing the B1G some undeserved love. OSU, PSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, MSU and NW are all ranked too high. But If this is close to being realistic it says a lot about the difficulty of our schedule: 6 of our opponents are listed.
I'm not sure they (or Nebraska) are.
I’ve read this many times different places and I disagree, but the article says many believe this to be harbaughs most talented team yet, I think the 2016 squad was the best so far and most talented and the 2018 the second, 2019 team sits third in my opinion, 2019 has a lot of question marks on defense no proven depth and we lack running back depth and experience which is huge. I think the big ten is down this coming year with the top 3 being osu, UM and msu, Nebraska could make case for the top 3
This team is so much better at QB and OL than the other teams that I think it's right. And when you include coaches as part of the team it isn't close.
I agree QB and OL will be best yet, I’m just very worried about the defensive line, replacing bush, and the depth in def back field.
Be nice if UM could get lucky and have charbonnet be a breakout freshman stud
The thing is I don't think running back is that important of a position any more especially in this offense which is going to be far more pass-centric than years past with a lot of QB runs mixed in. I think we might only see 15 -20 "traditional carries" per game this year (meaning handoffs or pitches to a running back).
I disagree in the sense that with experience comes ability to pick up blitzes. The ability to block as an RB is critical.
Good thing Tru Wilson is on the roster then.
I'll take a decent returning O-line with lots of experience over proven RB depth any day. Tru offers us experience at the position and the two younger RBs may turn out to be really good--RB can often be a plug and play situation. And while the D does have some question marks, I think it'll be fine.
Anyone who witnessed the pre/intra/post RR years knows how valuable a too O-line is (also anyone who has watched the Lions... ever). The only other position group that is more important is the QB (and not nearly as much if you end up going triple-option or other heavy ground game routes). A good O-line gives you time, which can make up for so many deficiencies elsewhere.
2016 was probably Michigan's best defensive team, but not their best offensive team.
2019 will be the most talented offensive team.
Man I strongly disagree.
There is not a single offensive position group I would say was more talented in 2016. Maybe FB/TE, but we’re anticipating decreased utilization of both
DL was much better in 2016. I don’t think the disparity is too wide with the rest of the defenses
Seriously? So you’d take Wilton over Shea? That’s not close.
"Lack of running back depth and experience"
Higdon and Smith were so fucking average. Turner, Charb, and Tru will be the best RB group Harbaugh has had at Michigan. WR Best Harbaugh has had. QB Best Harbaugh has had. OL Best Harbaugh has had
The defenses success will depend upon Brown adapting his scheme for certain games. There wont be that much of a talent drop off, but all in all we should score more which is what todays college game is all about.
Higdon was quite a bit better than average but I agree that this will be the best RB group (regardless of experience) we have had in many years.
It will be the best Offensive Line is years too.
Karan averaged 5.3ypc last season which is good for 111th in FBS. He's pretty average at everything except Id say above average durability
He racked up 1000 yards because Harbaugh pounded up the middle a gazllion times
Im seriously elated were finally past the Smith/Higdon days.
Higdon was the workhorse for an offense that struggled throwing the ball. Most defenses keyed in on him yet he still managed 107 yds/game, good enough for 18th in the country (3rd in the Big Ten) and 1178 total rushing yards (without any tries in the bowl game which he failed to compete in) good enough for 29th in the country (3rd in the Big Ten). I’d say that’s quite a bit better than average.
I don’t put much stock into RBs that averaged 7 yds/carry with 60 total carries under their belt, against primarily MAC competition...
But, if you’re just looking at yards per carry, Higdon managed 6ypc his previous two seasons; still quite a bit better than average.
Higdon was a good RB. Averaged over 5 ypc, had the homerun ability and grew into a decent pass blocker. I would take having a senior Higdon over anything we have currently and that’s not even close.
Smith was a tough football player who made the most out of his lack of speed. He’s probably the best pass protector RB we’ve had in decades.
Both played big roles in teams who won a lot of games. Let’s see what these 3 can offer before we start saying they are so much more talented than the previous guys
5ypc might be great in the NFL but its pretty average in NCAA
Like my other comment said, Higdons YPC ranked him 111th last season in FBS
Higdon did not really have home run ability. Michigan fans have forgotten what "Home run ability" is because weve been stuck with these slower backs for a decade now
When Nebraska loses 5+ games this year, we’ll have a good laugh.
You mean when they play five teams with competent defenses? They will look good in some games this year and will certainly put up points but the hype is a bit overblown for Nebraska and Frost. That defense of theirs is a ways off still and they are only a year removed from cleaning house. Still going to be reliant of underclassmen at key positions
I'm not getting the hype. Yes, they won 4 of their last 6 last year but the wins were over Bethune-Cookman, Illinois, Minnesota and that 9-6 win over Sparty - but that game was basically M00N played in a snowstorm.
The polls must really love Frost.
Nebraska had a very close game with Ohio St last year. And they made clear improvement in the 2nd half of the season.
So did Maryland. Are we to put them near the tops of the conference? Nebraska is better and will continue to be better but how we can annoint them as the team to beat in the B1G West off of last year is purely projection. Let’s see how The Frosties do this season. 9-10 wins and you may be right. 7-8 wins and it may be a little bit. They have to find a way to keep Martinez healthy all year which good luck with his usage.
I agree they were hyped. But I also think they will be better this year than some on here are saying.
It's a preseason poll, it's all projection.
Didn't Athlon have us at 4th in their pre-season prediction?
Has strength of schedule ever hurt Clemson or an SEC team?
No, Clemson will win against 3 undefeated shitty teams early in the season, like NC state or Syracuse, who are ranked absurdly high, then ride that wave to a playoff bid without any of their starters injured, so they can beat teams they have been prepping for for weeks.
There is a whole lot more truth to this than many may think. Having to run a gauntlet schedule in football, pro or college, takes a huge physical and emotional toll on a team. And this is one of the reasons recruiting is so pivotal-to distribute/mitigate the wear and tear on your top players without missing a beat. When your second string is better than most teams' first not only do you win but your stars remain fresh and, guess what, those second stringers are very prepared to take over next year. Saban doesn't win the NC every year-but damn close...and now Clemson is coming and maybe Georgia. Harbaugh certainly has his work cut out for him.
Agree. Many are too quick to look at the starting lineups but don't take into account the total roster which relates to depth - an obvious result of recruiting.
Everyone talks about Army as a tough game....not in the top 25...hmmm.
Oklahoma's defense was ranked #108 last year (that's not a misprint, not even in the top 100). Army had the #2 rushing offense, behind only Georgia Tech at #1. That was a very bad combination for Oklahoma. Michigan's defense was #1 last season, (going by yards per game, not total yards) #3 the year before that, #2 the year before that. It would take an extraordinary set of circumstances for Army to beat Michigan.
I think Michigan is going to easily win the first 2 games, and roar into Madison.
I was expecting Army to be in the Top 5.
I guess they're slow playing it.