Michigan football is off to a 3-1 start, but the season hasn’t unfolded as fans and media expected. After winning a national championship last year, powered by a host of NFL-bound talent, including star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the Wolverines find themselves in a different position. McCarthy left for the NFL, as did head coach Jim Harbaugh, who also departed for a professional coaching job, leaving Michigan without a clear backup plan at quarterback.
Through the first four weeks of the season, Michigan appears to have found their new leader in junior quarterback Alex Orji. Orji stepped in for Davis Warren, a former walk-on who struggled in the first three games, including throwing three interceptions in the Wolverines’ 28-18 win over Arkansas State. Last week, Orji helped Michigan secure a thrilling victory against USC, leading a game-winning drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run. The win kept Michigan ranked 12th nationally as they prepare to face Minnesota in Week 5.
Despite the increasing difficulty of their upcoming schedule, which includes matchups against Washington, Illinois, and Michigan State, the Wolverines are still in contention for a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff (CFP) berth, particularly with the expanded playoff format.
According to College Football Network (CFN), Michigan’s playoff chances are slim but not out of reach. After an early-season loss to top-ranked Texas, CFN ranks Michigan fourth, behind Penn State, Ohio State, and Oregon, in terms of potential CFP contenders. Michigan has a 10.63% chance of winning the Big Ten and making the playoff, according to CFN’s metrics. A pivotal game against Oregon on November 2 could determine the Wolverines’ path to the conference title, and the season finale against Ohio State will be another crucial test.
Although the season is still young and plenty can change, Michigan faces a challenging road ahead if they hope to repeat their recent success and make another deep postseason run.
