Mark Ingram calls Michigan 'the early favorite' ahead of 2023 season

With just over 30 days until kickoff, everyone is making their case as to who could or will win this season’s national championship. That includes Mark Ingram who, although an Alabama alum, went up north with his pick and selected the Michigan Wolverines as his early favorite going into the year.

Ingram shared that take in a recent appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’. He said the overall experience in what the program brought back to Ann Arbor is already going to be a plus for them. With that said, the lack of experience, specifically at quarterback, at some of the other usual powerhouses is something that also puts them over the top to him.

“Georgia is breaking in a new quarterback, Alabama is breaking in a new quarterback, Ohio State is breaking in a new quarterback,” Ingram explained. “I think, if you look at who is returning, Michigan is returning 14 starters, they’re returning their quarterback who had a great year last year, they’re returning a double-headed monster in the backfield.”

“I think ‘Go Blue’ is kind of the early favorite,” stated Ingram.

Michigan is a more than justifiable pick considering what they’ve done over the past two seasons. After continuously hitting a wall, Jim Harbaugh has gotten the Wolverines over the hump in ’21 and ’22 with two wins over Ohio State, two Big Ten Championships, and two appearances in the College Football Playoff.

Now, the next hurdle for them lies in the postseason in trying to win a national title. They haven’t done so since 1997 but, based on what they’re bringing back from their combined records of 25-3 over the past two years, Ingram believes that, at the moment, they have a legitimate shot at ending that drought.

Aidan Hutchinson believes the 2023 Wolverines can win it all

Aidan Hutchinson didn’t get to climb the college football mountaintop, but he thinks his alma mater Michigan has a great chance this coming season.

Hutchison made it clear Michigan has to get over the semifinal hump. But, if his former team does, it’ll pay off.

“I can’t be heartbroken again at the playoffs,” Hutchinson said on The Rich Eisen Show. “Just that last year (against) TCU? That should have never ever, ever been at a loss. But I think the boys are gonna turn the page. The boys got a chance to win. I hope they get over that semi-final hurdle. I think, if they win the (semifinal), the boys win it all.

“They gotta get over that first-round hurdle. But I think expectations are through the roof. (They have) all the talent in the world, same coaching staff. Like, nothing should change.”