Should Michigan football fans be nervous about high 2023 expectations?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football fans can’t find anything to worry about, and it’s making them nervous.

That was my takeaway from reading the questions submitted for this week’s mailbag. Worrying about stuff is how fans pass the time from March to mid-July, when the excitement for the season starts to take over. As the anticipation builds for next year, there’s a fear that we’re all overlooking some fatal flaw that’s going to thwart the Wolverines’ hopes of a third consecutive Big Ten championship.

I’m not sure I can stop anyone from worrying, but I’ll do my best.

Submitted questions have been edited for length and clarity.  

I’m a 44 year-old lifetime Michigan fan. I can’t think of a time when I was more optimistic about an upcoming season. Is my enthusiasm misplaced? Am I missing something that should give me pause? — Ben L. 

No, Ben, I don’t think you’re missing anything. We can talk about the second cornerback spot or the questions at kicker, but if those are the top two concerns, fans should feel extremely confident about the team Michigan is going to put on the field in the fall.

A bunch of teams around the country are breaking in new quarterbacks, including Ohio State and Penn State. Georgia and Alabama are reloading. This looks like the deepest and most talented team of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan, and it also looks like a year when the path to the national championship is wide open.

I understand why that has Michigan fans feeling a little nervous. Anything less than a third consecutive Big Ten championship and a victory in the College Football Playoff is going to feel like a letdown, and that’s a lot of pressure to carry into a season. I’m not guaranteeing Michigan is going to win the whole thing, but there’s no glaring weakness beyond those we’ve already discussed.

Sometimes being realistic means talking yourself down from high expectations or recognizing that the best-case scenario isn’t going to happen at every position. There’s no need for that with Michigan. Realistically, the Wolverines are going to be one of the most talented teams in college football. But there’s a lot of randomness in sports, and having a great team doesn’t guarantee a great season. My advice is to enjoy a low-stress offseason while you can, because there should be no shortage of drama in the fall.

Ohio State and Penn State are the two clear threats to Michigan in the Big Ten East this year. 1) Which team do you think will be better this year? 2) Which game do you think will be tougher for Michigan (at PSU, vs. OSU)? – George S.

If I had to project the East right now, I know which team I’d pick No. 1. I’m not sure at all which team I’d pick No. 2.

Is that an overreaction? Maybe. Ohio State had a good run as the team to beat in the East, and it took two resounding victories for Michigan unseat the Buckeyes as the favorite. Dropping Ohio State to third feels extreme. But I’m also…