Michigan Football: Wolverines Would Join Elite Group With Third Straight Playoff Appearance

The Michigan Wolverines enter the 2023 season as one of the heavy favorites to be part of the College Football Playoff, and a third straight appearance would place them in elite territory.

With the kickoff of the 2023 college football season just weeks away, there's no denying that the expectations are extremely high for Michigan. The Wolverines are returning over 80 percent of their production from the 2022 season, including veteran quarterback JJ McCarthy, the top running back duo in the country with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, and an offensive line loaded with future NFL draft picks.

Given all of the talent and experience that's returning to Ann Arbor, Michigan is once again a heavy favorite to land in the College Football Playoff. Although the ultimate prize is obviously winning a national championship, a third straight appearance in the playoff would place the Wolverines alongside some elite company. 

Since its inception in 2014, only three programs have made three straight appearances (or more) in the College Football Playoff - Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma. Entering the 2023 season, there are only two programs in the country that have a shot at joining that list - Georgia and Michigan.  

While Georgia is coming off of back-to-back  national championships and favored to win a third straight, Michigan has stumbled in the semifinal game in each of its last two playoff appearances. In 2021, the Wolverines suffered a convincing loss to the eventual national champion (Georgia) by a score of 34-11. In 2022, the Wolverines suffered a heartbreaking loss to underdog TCU by a score of 51-45.

Here's a look at the latest national championship odds by Caesar's Sportsbook:

1. Georgia: +230
2. Alabama: +650
3. Ohio State: +750
4. Michigan: +800
5. LSU: +1000
6. USC: +1000
7. Clemson: +1600
8. Florida State: +1800
9. Texas: +2000
10. Penn State: +2200
11. Notre Dame: +3000
12. Tennessee: +3000