Greg McElroy makes the case for Michigan to be a College Football Playoff contender

Fresh off its national championship, Michigan dropped off quite a bit. Sherrone Moore did not produce the results anyone in Ann Arbor wanted, now loading up for an important 2025 season. It’s one where ESPN’s Greg McElroy believes the Wolverines will be in the College Football Playoff mix.

Partially because of the schedule in front of them. Michigan will only play six games at home and do have some difficult road games — mainly the early-season showdown against Oklahoma. But getting Ohio State at home is more important than anything.

“I think the schedule for Michigan is relatively favorable,” McElroy said. ” … I wouldn’t be surprised if we fast-forwarded to season’s end and Michigan is back in the College Football Playoff race, they’re in the mix, and they’re in the conversation.”

Talking about schedules is fun but the real issue for Michigan was a glaring one. Moore did not have an offense capable of doing almost anything, specifically at the quarterback position. The Wolverines fell behind after losing JJ McCarthy to the NFL Draft.

Insert Bryce Underwood, one of the more hyped recruits of recent times. Michigan pulled off a massive flip from LSU, getting him on campus. No official announcement has come yet but Underwood appears to be the favorite for the starting quarterback job.

McElroy likes the skill set Underwood brings to the table for Michigan. Questions might pop up about a true freshman getting back there. However, based on the style of play, Underwood should be put in a position to have success.

“I’m pretty optimistic about what this offense could look like, relative to what it was last year,” McElroy said. “I think it will be Bryce Underwood. He’s the centerpiece. He enrolled early, participated in bowl practice, took all the reps in the spring. He showed off dual-threat capabilities, showed off a lot of playmaking capability. Now, it’s kind of about managing the game and I think he’s going to be just fine on that because they’re going to rely heavily on running the ball.”

From 2021 to 2023, Michigan was a constant in the College Football Playoff. That was when only four teams were included, being near the top of the sport. Being involved moving forward means there is some leeway in terms of record.

McElroy believes the Wolverines have the chops to get into the 12-team field. A nice schedule and quarterback excitement tends to be a nice combination.