Reacting to Michigan Football’s ranking in preseason AP poll
Michigan football is ranked eighth in the 2022 AP preseason college football poll and with the season less than three weeks away, we offer our thoughts.
The preseason AP poll is finally out and heading into the 2022 season, the media has a slightly less optimistic view of Michigan football than the coaches’ poll.
Michigan was ranked sixth according to the coaches poll when it was released last week, but the AP poll has the Wolverines ranked eighth overall, which is second in the Big Ten.
BREAKING: Who’s No. 1? Alabama tops the preseason AP Top 25 for the 9th time but there are familiar foes lurking in the top five.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 15, 2022
See the whole poll presented by @RegionsBank: https://t.co/7dTTUiSC1j pic.twitter.com/XOimkiHXuj
In a surprise to nobody, Alabama is ranked as the preseason No. 1 for the ninth time and while it’s nice to have Michigan football ranked in the top 10, the Wolverines weren’t even ranked a season ago and found a way to make the College Football Playoff.
That proves that these rankings really don’t matter. What you do on the football field does.
Michigan football’s ranking seems fair
Besides the ranking for the Wolverines seems fair. One college football analyst didn’t even have Michigan football ranked in his top 25, which seems a little crazy.
Yes, the Wolverines lost Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Hassan Haskins, and Daxton Hill to the NFL, but every good program loses top talent to the NFL. That’s just par for the course.
Michigan still has a slew of potential early-round picks on the roster in Mazi Smith, Blake Corum, Ronnie Bell, Ryan Hayes, and more. Jim Harbaugh has also won at least eight games in every full season as head coach, so I don’t see a setback in 2022.
Cade McNamara is likely going to be the starter again, but the tandem of McNamara and J.J. McCarthy gives Michigan football the depth and talent needed to win at the game’s most important position.
Jim Harbaugh also believes this defense is going to exceed expectations and if he’s right, then it’s easy to see Michigan having another top-10 campaign.
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Ohio State is ranked second in the poll. Notre Dame is fifth. Michigan State is ranked 15th and Wisconsin is No. 18. The season will start September 3rd.