Michigan Football's Chance To Repeat As Big Ten Champions

CBS Sports came out with an article ranking the 2022-23 conference champions in terms of who has the best odds of repeating the honor in 2023-24.

Out of the 10 teams that won their respective conference a year ago, the Wolverines came in at No. 3 behind Georgia and Clemson, who won the SEC and ACC, respectively.

Outside of Georgia, the Wolverines have been arguably the most dominant team in college football over the past two seasons with a 25-3 record plus consecutive Big Ten championships and CFP berths, ranking as high as No. 2. The 2023 iteration might be the best of the bunch with running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards pacing what could be the most dynamic rushing attack in college football. The only roadblock on Michigan's schedule is Ohio State, another College Football Playoff team in 2022 that will have a target right on UM's back all season long after dropping two straight to its rival. But if the Wolverines can win three consecutive versions of The Game for the first time since 1997 – a national championship season – Michigan will win the Big Ten.

No. 3 feels like a great spot for Michigan in these rankings. More on the Wolverines in a bit, but for those of you who laugh at Michigan's schedule, go look at Georgia. UGA's non-conference schedule consists of UT-Martin, Ball State, and rival Georgia Tech to finish the season -- yuck. Also, the Bulldogs do not play Alabama -- unless the two clash off in the SEC title game --. Georgia does have to play at Florida and Tennessee, but the Gators shouldn't be much of a challenge for the two-time national champion. The Vols hinge on how former Michigan quarterback, Joe Milton, does as the starter.

Clemson's schedule isn't much better. The Tigers play in a really weak conference, however, Clemson does have to play the likes of Florida State, North Carolina, and Notre Dame, so there could be some challenges there. But still, the ACC has been a weak football conference for years now.

The Wolverines should get through their non-conference schedule with ease. Michigan gets the luxury of getting Ohio State in Ann Arbor this season. But the away schedule could provide challenges. Michigan has to go to Nebraska and Minnesota in back-to-back weeks, the Wolverines travel to East Lansing to face Michigan State, and Michigan will play at Penn State -- not in a night game atmosphere.

Obviously, the Nittany Lions is the team that may challenge Michigan the most before The Game happens on November 25. It feels like for the third year in a row, the Big Ten will come down to the Buckeyes vs. Wolverines.