Nothing signifies we are getting closer to college football season than when the preview magazines start to hit the shelves. There aren't many college football prognosticators more popular than Phil Steele, and his annual magazine is now available.

In his breakdown of the Big Ten, Steele has Michigan finishing 4th in the conference. The defending 3-time Big Ten Champions have had an offseason of turnover, with new head coach Sherrone Moore, a new defensive staff, and an almost entirely new starting lineup on offense. Still, a complete rebuild is not in the cards, and the Wolverines should compete again in 2024.

Steele's projection for Michigan may have more to do with the rest of the conference than it does with Michigan itself. Steele projects Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State to all be top 5 teams in 2024, with Oregon and Ohio State playing for the Big Ten Championship. Michigan also plays Steele's #4 Texas in week 2 of the regular season.

With Texas a non-conference matchup early in the season, a win could make Michigan's playoff case very early and propel the team to a better-than-expected season. A loss, and it doesn't hurt Michigan's Big Ten chances. The Wolverines play Oregon to start November and, of course, Ohio State on Thanksgiving weekend. If Michigan wins the games they are supposed to, and finds a way to get at least one upset in November, they could be right in the hunt for another Big Ten Championship.

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