Last season was magical for the Michigan Wolverines. In August, the program was being mocked nationally for extending head coach Jim Harbaugh following a 2-4 season, and by December, pundits were taking a number to line up and glad hand the AP Coach of the Year.
Michigan went from unranked to the College Football Playoff; Big Ten East obscurity to conference superiority. In a few short months, the Wolverines — led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Aidan Hutchinson — upset the established order in college football and earned the right to face Georgia in the CFP.
It was the most important Michigan football season in 24 years, but the Wolverines still fell short in their quest to ascend the throne of college football.