Michigan Wolverines Are Not Backed to Reign as Champions

The Michigan Wolverines may have won the College Football Playoff National Championship for the 2023 season, but their chances of repeating are slim.

With Jim Harbaugh leaving the program and Sherrone Moore taking coach, the team’s chances of defending its title were dramatically reduced. Meanwhile, their conference opponents Ohio State and Georgia, both powerhouses, saw their odds rise.

National Championship Odds: Where Do the Michigan Wolverines Rank?

According to the most recent odds, the Georgia Bulldogs are the +220 favorites to win the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2024, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns at +500 and +600, respectively (via Circa Sports).

It’s not surprising that the Bulldogs and Buckeyes are favorites. Georgia has Carson Beck back, and after failing to defend their back-to-back crowns, they should be more determined this season.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes certainly had the finest 2024 recruiting class, with commitments from running back Quinshon Judkins, safety Caleb Downs, and quarterback Julian Sayin. With Harbaugh’s departure from Michigan and the resulting exodus, Ohio State is in a great position to dominate the Big Ten and challenge for the national championship.

Michigan, on the other hand, has a long shot at winning the title again, with odds of +2500. It’s not too bad, but for the defending champions, it speaks volumes about the significant changes that they are currently experiencing.

Why do the Michigan Wolverines rank so low?

It’s understandable that oddsmakers are skeptical of the Michigan Wolverines’ ability to repeat. After all, it wasn’t only Harbaugh who left the program to lead the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.

Harbaugh also brought some of his Michigan assistants to Los Angeles, causing Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines program to undergo a major revamp.

While the roster is essentially intact, the Wolverines will face significant challenges in resuming operations. Not to mention that they will be doing so without JJ McCarthy and the other athletes who are departing the program to pursue professional opportunities.

Moore coached the Wolverines during Harbaugh’s suspension last season, so he is familiar with managing the team. Nonetheless, given what has transpired to the squad in recent months, it will not be simple.