The Michigan Wolverines became national champions Monday night, using a suffocating defensive performance and power running game to beat Washington by a score of 34-13. The victory gives Michigan its first national title since 1997.
For Michigan fans, the coming days are a chance to celebrate a historic season and achievement. Soon after the confetti stops falling, however, the biggest storyline surrounding Michigan football will be the job status of head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh is 88-25 leading Michigan, and the Wolverines have won consecutive conference championships. The chino and milk connoisseur is reportedly a candidate for NFL head coaching jobs, however, and it’s possible Michigan enters 2024 with a new head coach.
In part due to Harbaugh’s looming decision and anticipated roster turnover, the Wolverines aren’t the betting favorite to win the 2024 national title.
Michigan title odds
While sports betting apps don’t list the Wolverines as the betting favorite, they aren’t far from the top.
Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State hold the shortest odds of winning the 2024-25 national championship on BetMGM and FanDuel. Michigan is given +900 odds to win it all on BetMGM, and FanDuel has the Wolverines at +1000. DraftKings also has the Wolverines at +1000 to repeat as national champs.
Michigan and Ohio State are once again expected to be top dogs in the Big Ten, although new conference entrant Oregon has +1000 odds to win the national title at BetMGM. The conference should be among the nation’s most competitive in 2024.
Washington — which loses several key offensive players, including quarterback Michael Penix Jr. — is +5000 to win the national championship at FanDuel. Michigan and Washington will meet during the 2024 regular season, with the Huskies joining the Big Ten.
Brutal schedule
Michigan’s 2024 schedule features a brutal assortment of games. In addition to its annual rivalry with Ohio State, the Wolverines are scheduled to face Texas, USC, Oregon, and Washington in 2024, with the latter three programs all joining the Big Ten in 2024.
Fortunately for the Wolverines, the 2024 season features a 12-team playoff field. Michigan could likely drop one or two games and still be a strong candidate to make the tournament given its strength of schedule.
Photo: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
