Monday was a big day for college football fans. The first AP Top 25 ballot of the season was made public and Michigan football came in at No. 2.
This is somewhat of an unfamiliar ranking for the Wolverines in the preseason poll as it’s been over 30 years since they’ve been slotted this high to start a season. You have to go all the way back to 1991 when Michigan was last ranked No. 2 to start the season. Since that year, the Wolverines have been ranked in the top 10 of the preseason poll 14 times.
Jim Harbaugh has arguably his best roster ever and it starts with JJ McCarthy at quarterback and the two-headed monster of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards at running back.
Defensively, things should definitely pick up right where they left off last season (outside of a TCU meltdown) and the Wolverines should have one of the best defenses in the nation.
After back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances and Big Ten titles, Michigan is getting some national respect from the media.
Twitter reacts to Michigan football’s No. 2 ranking
Fans and rivals made their opinions known on social media following the AP Top 25’s release.
Michigan is ranked #2 in the AP Poll 〽️ #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/35kHLlLjcj
— Michigan Football on UMGoBlue (@UMGoBlog) August 14, 2023
Michigan has its highest AP poll preseason ranking since 1991, when it also ranked second nationally. 👀https://t.co/SsO9kmNE1q pic.twitter.com/EcEOJStSjm
— TheWolverine.com (@TheWolverineOn3) August 14, 2023
Michigan comes out at No. 2 in the first preseason Top 25 🔥😮💨 #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/0LOUifnfbw
— 𝔾𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕪𝕓𝕠𝕪® (@TheGloveSports) August 14, 2023
Michigan being ranked #2 in the preseason AP poll is the team's highest preseason ranking since 1991.
— Swanky Wolverine (@swankywolverine) August 14, 2023
This is the year. 〽️
1. Michigan too high
— Jacob Ashman (@jashman99) August 14, 2023
2. LSU a tad too high but nothing crazy
3. FSU is not the best team in that conference
4. Oregon>Utah
5. KSU way too high
6. Wisconsins too low
7. Iowa should not be ranked
8. UTSA should be ranked
9. South Carolina should be ranked
10. Fairly accurate list https://t.co/9PUHiuUdxI
Michigan ranked at #2 in the AP Poll.
— 〽️att Hartwell (@MaizeCrusader) August 14, 2023
Let’s gooo 😤
And the first AP Poll of the season is out!!!
— Josh Augdahl 〽️ (@UMFanAugdahl) August 14, 2023
Michigan comes in at #2, receiving 2 first place votes!
Other B1G teams ranked:
#3 Ohio State
#7 Penn State
#19 Wisconsin
#25 Iowa
Michigan is ranked too low https://t.co/F7r7ym4GeZ
— MGORINGS💍〽️ (@MotorCityFan2) August 14, 2023
Michigan at #2 to start the season seems a bit generous https://t.co/JP09j4dUQi
— tranquilo sunrise (@screennamexxi) August 14, 2023
Michigan fans are loving the preseason hype as it’s the first time the Wolverines have been ranked this high in the preseason in over 30 years. Rivals, however, are not too pleased to see Michigan at No. 2, especially after how last season ended.
Expect the constant bickering about rankings between rivals to continue through the season.