Jim Harbaugh marvels at the momentum of Michigan program

The Michigan football team goes into 2023 once again a favorite to reach the College Football Playoff and perhaps contend for a national title. And the momentum of the Michigan program is a real factor.

The Wolverines have now made back-to-back playoff appearances.

And while those appearances haven’t ended in the result that Michigan fans wanted, they are illustrative of a program that is improving. After Michigan was dismantled by Georgia in 2021, it was much more competitive in a 51-45 loss to TCU in 2022.

Coach Jim Harbaugh believes the momentum in the Michigan program is still building.

“I was really surprised after the ’21 season that you felt like, ‘OK, this is as good as it can get’ with everybody — players, coaches, staff — everybody pulling in the same direction,” Harbaugh said recently. “Then ’22 it just, that momentum, there was that cultural momentum that seemed to even, wow, got even better. And then kind of saying to myself, ‘That’s got to be as good as it can get’ but then seeing our players, our staff, our coaches, it seems like there’s even more cultural momentum.”

If the team chemistry is right with the momentum in the Michigan program building the way Harbaugh describes it, watch out. Because the Wolverines are certainly talented enough to win it all.

Starting quarterback JJ McCarthy is back after throwing for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns, against just five interceptions. He’ll have an impressive arsenal of weapons to work with.

The Wolverines can probably match or best the rival Buckeyes in the backfield, returning the likes of Blake Corum (1,463 yards, 18 TDs) and Donovan Edwards (991 yards, 7 TDs). That group will be as good as any in the country, affording McCarthy the luxury of an elite run game.

Michigan also returns several stars defensively, and while the schedule will once again be quite tough, it’s nothing the Wolverines haven’t managed perfectly the last two years.

So will the momentum in the Michigan program culminate with a national title?

That remains to be seen. It’s why they play the games.

But if you listen to Harbaugh or anyone around his program heading into 2023, they’ll tell you one thing about the team.

“It’s fun to be around,” Harbaugh said.