Former Michigan star 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.

The Wolverines made the College Football Playoff semifinals the last two seasons but lost to Georgia and TCU, respectively. Last year’s loss really stung though as Michigan was a popular pick to get to the big game.

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. I think 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.”

To make things sting a little more, Michigan got over the Ohio State hump with back-to-back wins over the Buckeyes and won two straight Big Ten championships.

But J.J. McCarthy is back, as well as many others as Hutchinson alluded to. But McCarthy is the most important since, well, he’s the quarterback.

“A lot of my excitement about Michigan centers around the improvement of J.J. McCarthy,” former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said. “I think he’s really on the cusp of becoming a superstar in the world of college football. I think he’s the best quarterback in the Big Ten right now. I want the upside potentially of J.J. McCarthy.

“I believe he has it in him and I think his best football is in front of them. I really believe that and I would be surprised if he doesn’t take a significant step this year in 2023.”

Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum returned as well, giving Michigan, arguably, the best backfield duo in the country. If they were that good last year, just imagine 2023. 

Corum had to sit out the end of the season due to injury, so Michigan fans didn’t get to see him against TCU. If the Wolverines want to make a national title run, the three headed monster of McCarthy, Edwards and Corum better hit the ground running all year.