ESPN identifies best, worst case scenarios for Michigan in 2023

Michigan will open the season as the No. 2 team in the nation according to the AP’s Preseason Top-25. That’s why expectations in Ann Arbor and nationally are as high as they maybe ever have been for the Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh.

What does that mean, though? If everything pans out exactly as planned, what’s the best scenario for the men in maize?

According to ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren, the answer to that question is a national title. VanHaaren recently evaluated Michigan’s best and worst scenarios in an article that examined every program in the Top-25. Regardless of how tough their final three-game stretch is, he believes that the Wolverines have the mindset and the roster in place to hoist the trophy by the end of the College Football Playoff.

“After winning the Big Ten title and making it to the playoff the past two years, Michigan’s goal is to make it to the final game and win a national championship,” VanHaaren wrote. “The schedule is back-loaded…facing Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State to finish out the season. That stretch will determine how far this team goes. But the pieces are there for the Wolverines to reach their goal.”

However, there’s a flip side to that coin. What’s the worst case for Michigan you might ask? Two losses, or potentially even three, is the answer in VanHaaren’s eyes. He referenced back to that final three-game stretch against the Nittany Lions, Terrapins, and Buckeyes as his reasoning. Penn State and Ohio State are obviously formidable but a roadtrip to College Park sandwiched in the middle could make Maryland a sneaky upset pick as well.

“Maryland has an argument here to make it 9-3. But, the way this team is set up, this should be its floor,” wrote VanHaaren. “Those two losses would be devastating to Michigan’s season.”

The time could very well be now for Michigan to win its first national title since 1997. Their fate will seemingly hang in the balance, though, depending on how they finish the season between November 11th inside Beaver Stadium to November 25th in The Game.

Blake Corum says Michigan’s confidence is ‘through the roof’

Blake Corum recently expressed the amount of confidence Michigan has going into the 2023 season. The two-time defending Big Ten champions lost two years in a row during the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Last year might’ve been particularly painful with an upset loss to TCU. But Corum opted to return to school and joined backfield mate Donovan Edwards and quarterback JJ McCarthy in one of the best trios in the country.

The days of shattered confidence are long gone while the new days of a confident Michigan team are in.

“Confidence is through the roof,” Corum said on Bussin’ With The Boys. “Yeah you know, the way we’ve been working this offseason the way the team’s camaraderie is,, we’re on a whole ‘nother level right now and going into camp tomorrow, it’s gonna be crazy.”