How Michigan has changed outside perspective of program

The Michigan Wolverines have entered a new era. Yet, they still feel like they have to claw their way to victory.

After going 13-1 last season and missing the National Championship game by six points, Jim Harbaugh silenced the doubters. In a recent episode of “The Hard Count,” On3’s own JD PicKell discussed Michigan’s rise to power.

“Michigan fans you remember it clearly. You remember it so clearly. Leading up to that game against Ohio State, everybody was kind of just assuming Ohio State was going to be in the College Football Playoffs and they were going to beat you and maybe you’d find a backdoor in the CFP,” PicKell said. “That wasn’t the case. That Ohio State game put a lot of us on notice.”

For those unaware, Michigan delivered a deafening 45-23 defeat to Ohio State last season to essentially secure a spot in the CFP. The triumph was Michigan’s second-straight year winning the conference and, more importantly, it was a message to the nation: Michigan runs the Big Ten now.

The Wolverines are poised to be even better in 2023. First, Michigan returns star quarterback JJ McCarthy with now a full year of experience under his belt. Further, the Wolverines bring back running back Blake Corum. The 5-foot-8 senior’s season ended early last year after suffering an injury in Week 11.

Despite only growing in power, the Wolverines are keeping a hungry mindset.

“The edge is still there,” PicKell said “Michigan’s been the top dog in their mind for a long time. Have they played the underdog role? Sure. But Michigan, when they beat Ohio State in Columbus last year, I was on-hand. I was right there there watching the celebration. They knew what people thought about them on the outside looking in, but that didn’t get anywhere near the Michigan locker room.”

Now, everybody else knows Michigan is the top dog, too. NCAA.com ranked Michigan as No. 2 in its way-too-early preseason rankings. Who was No. 3? Ohio State. That one had to feel good for the Michigan faithful. Pickell believes the Wolverines will give them more to be happy about this fall.

“You’re gonna hear a lot of chatter about their the front runner, they’re leading the pack, and that’s true. But, I don’t think that psyche really changes with Jim Harbaugh running the show,” PicKell said.