The coaches, culture and attitude have propelled the Michigan Wolverines back to being the apex predators in the Big Ten and on the cusp of playing for a national title. However, Michigan would not be in the rarified air it now occupies without several surprising developments happening along the way.
Below are my top five picks for these phenomena, organized by a combination of their unexpectedness and impact on the season.
5. The rise of Will Johnson
Names like Charles Woodson and Ty Law immediately come to mind when one thinks of what a Michigan cornerback ought to be.