A mere two years ago, the release of the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll looked like dire news for Michigan.
The Wolverines were ranked well outside the Top 25, Jim Harbaugh was theoretically on the hot seat and it didn’t seem clear when they’d beat Ohio State again after eight straight losses. All the trends suggested Michigan was on a path to long-term mediocrity, not long-term Big Ten supremacy.
But the release of this year’s preseason poll tells a much different story. After back-to-back conference titles and College Football Playoff bids, voters don’t merely have Michigan above Ohio State but also ahead of everyone not named Georgia.