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In case you have not heard today, the first AP Top 25 poll was released, and Michigan football was ranked 7th. The first two places were not expected, and the third and fourth seemed too difficult to reach. The expected position for the Wolverines was between five and nine places, landing perfectly between the two.
It's understandable that the Wolverines are in seventh position and they are lucky not to have been knocked down in 8th place.
Above them, at five and six, Ohio State and LSU.
Ohio State won the Big Ten Conference championship last season and if they have a new head coach in Ryan Day and a new starting quarterback in Justin Fields, they slaughtered the Wolverines in their annual rivalry match. Not only that, they recharge once more to multiple positions.
LSU has just finished a great season of 10-3 wins, with some quality wins over Georgia, Auburn and UCF. Their only hitch was a tight game against the Florida Gators, who got no points against Alabama and who lost seven times against Texas A & M.
The Wolverines occupy a place above Florida. The team that finally took their revenge and dominated Michigan in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl last season could be ranked above the Wolverines because of the only game played, but they are not.
Michigan is in an ideal position to start the season at No. 7. It is in the top 10, but it is not yet considered a playoff team, as the majority of the top teams are already present and have proven that they could. Michigan did not do it.
The timing is discouraging, as from this ranking, the Wolverines have six opponents ranked this season. If the Wolverines can win all these games (and if all opponents remain ranked) and remain undefeated, there is no way they are not the No. 1 team in college football.
Now these rankings are based somewhat on last season, but more so on the hype surrounding the team. The action of the spring ball, the discussions on the autumn camp, everything is speculation.
Michigan has not yet played the game with this new attack led by offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. They find themselves in the top 10 of the two bad finals of their season, losing several NFL draft players and coaching changes.
For these rankings, although starting at a high point does not guarantee that you will be in the same place in December, it is not a bad thing if you lose an early match and finish well.
The Wolverines play against Army, a team that had 94 votes to appear in the first AP Top 25 poll at the start of the season. Now, if the Michigan Army triumphs Michigan (this will help it even more if it gets in the top 25 by the second week here) and they lose but finish the season 11-1, this defeat at the beginning of the season, to a hard (maybe ranked) in the Army team, do not hurt them too much and with a Big Ten championship, it does not no doubt the Wolverines qualify for the college football playoffs.
If the Wolverines were ranked lower, their chances could be examined differently and it would be harder for them to bounce back. Now, if Michigan loses a tough game later in the season, it could certainly hurt them, but the context will be particularly important for the player's choice, the ranking of his opponents and his proximity.
The seventh was a perfect choice for the Michigan football club and it will be a good start to the season as the season is fast approaching as they will receive Middle Tennessee on August 31 at 7:30 pm. in Ann Arbor.
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