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3 reasons why Michigan football can win a 4th straight Big Ten title

Many are picking Oregon or Ohio State to win the Big Ten title but here are three reasons why Michigan football could emerge as Big Ten champion again.

By Chris Peterson

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore against the Washington Huskies during the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore against the Washington Huskies during the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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The oddsmakers have doubted Michigan football numerous times in the past three years and going into the 2024 season, most of them have Oregon or Ohio State winning the Big Ten title.

That's understandable. Michigan football lost 10 starters on offense, some elite players on defense, and the best head coach the program has ever had, as well as the best head coach in college football. Full stop.

I know some people won't agree with that sentiment, but I don't believe Kirby Smart could have won a national title at Michigan. Maybe Nick Saban, but Smart has never known anything but top-5 recruiting classes and I don't know if he could win without that.

Jim Harbaugh can and did. He did what most deemed impossible in this new era. I had given up on Michigan football ever winning a national championship again. I didn't think anything beyond a Big Ten title was possible.

But here we are getting ready to open the 2024 season with Michigan as the defending national champions. I feel confident that this team can make the 12-team playoff. But what about winning another Big Ten title?

Here are three reasons why it's not that far fetched.

An elite defense

They say defense wins championships for a reason, because it does. That's especially true in college football. Just look at the last three national champions. They have each been definied by defense.

You need to score points to be able to win. Running the ball is extremely important -- something else Michigan football does as well as anyone -- but if you can stop your opponents the way Michigan can, you can win a lot of games, even with a mediocre quarterback.

I'm not saying Michigan has a mediocre quarterback. Alex Orji could be a bust. He could also be a star. We just don't know, but if this defense is as good as we all expect it to be, Orji won't need to be a superstar to lead Michigan to another Big Ten title.

The fact that the Wolverines won a Big Ten championship with Cade McNamara is evidence of that and with possibly four first-round picks on this defense, this will be a championship-level unit.

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