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3 reasons Michigan Football can win the national title in 2023

By Chris Peterson

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh watches as J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up before they take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona RepublicNcaa Fiesta Bowl Game
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh watches as J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up before they take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona RepublicNcaa Fiesta Bowl Game /
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Michigan football is getting a lot of buzz as a national title contender this offseason, but here are three reasons why the Wolverines can actually win it all.

There is more excitement surrounding the 2023 Michigan football team than any other I can remember in my nearly 30 years as a fan.

When Wolverines won the national championship in 1997, nobody expected it. Michigan football didn’t even start that season ranked in the top 10.

This time around, many pundits are expecting Michigan football to challenge Georgia for the national title. The Bulldogs are the two-time defending national champs, while Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and the usual suspects should all be pretty good.

However, most of them have new starting quarterbacks. Michigan football doesn’t. The Wolverines also return a ton of experience. At positions where Michigan had question marks, the Wolverines added transfers.

Is the roster good enough? Is the schedule manageable? Here are three reasons why Michigan football can actually win the national championship in 2023, not just contend for it.

J.J. McCarthy

There are plenty of reasons to feel good about this Michigan football team and we’ll get to those, yet McCarthy is the best reason why this team can exceed expectations.

We have seen with Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and DeShaun Watson what having a truly elite quarterback can do. The powers that be are going to have good quarterbacks, but McCarthy might be the best of the bunch this season.

McCarthy can make all the throws. He’s accurate. Takes care of the ball and can move. I’d like to see him used as a runner near the goal line more. He ran when needed against Ohio State.

That’s something the Wolverines need to let him do more, especially in the red zone — it’s just hard to stop and he’s a dynamic athlete.

McCarthy was really good last season and now, with a season of starting experience under his belt, he’s going to be ruthlessly efficient. That’s my expectation.

I also think he’ll eclipse 3,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns. The numbers might not be eye-popping, but the play will be elite and that’s one reason why Michigan football will have a shot to win the natty in 2023.

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