Is this a rebuilding year for Michigan?
Jim Harbaugh is gone. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and his entire staff are gone. Strength and conditioning coordinator Ben Herbert, considered a key to the Wolverines’ success. QB J.J. McCarthy is gone.
But ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum thinks Michigan could have a great season.
When asked about a rebuilding year, Finebaum said, “I don’t think so. I think they have, on the defensive side, a good enough team to be a playoff team.”
Finebaum says Michigan’s schedule might be the thing that trips Big Blue up, “I think the schedule is not their friend. So they’re going to have to pull an upset. The second week of the season, Texas comes in there, and we all know we spent last week talking about (Steve) Sarkisian and Texas. That’s a game they probably need to win to get far along, because there are a couple of games they’re not going to win.”
What record gets Michigan into the college football playoff? “I think for Michigan, 10-2 will get them in,” he said. “9-3 and it’s going to be a long Saturday night on Selection Sunday weekend.”