3 reasons why Michigan Football won't repeat as Big Ten champions

As glorious as this three-year run has been, it has to come to an end at some point. On paper, this is primed to be the year with Ohio State going all in for a national title or bust and Oregon on the precipice of national dominance under Dan Lanning. So Michigan football is reasonably getting no love as the defending national champions in their own revamped conference. That's why this year may be the time for this historic run to come to a grinding halt. These are three reasons why.

1. The schedule

Sure the Wolverines get Texas, USC, Michigan State and Oregon at home but they'll have to enter those contests against presumably two teams ranked higher then them and that is not including the Buckeyes who will be waiting for them in November. Getting four of those five at home is about as good as a hand as they can be dealt.

It's clearly going to be tougher than last year, no one can argue that. Washington won't be the same powerhouse, but the Huskies haven't lost a home game since 2021. Even Fresno State went 9-4 in 2023 and upset Purdue at Ross-Ade stadium in the opener. The Wolverines will square off with four schools who had 11 wins or more in 2024 and two of them made it to the playoffs.

Going unscathed through that gauntlet will be almost insurmountable.