Greg McElroy Predicts Growing Pains For Former National Title Contender In New Conference

The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies played for the national championship last season. The Wolverines won 34-13, and now both head coaches are no longer at the same school.

Kalen DeBoer left for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and Jim Harbaugh landed an NFL job with the Los Angeles Chargers. Washington hired former Arizona Wildcats head coach Jedd Fisch to replace DeBoer.

"...Just two of 22 starters return from last year's national championship team. Tons of guys left in the portal. They had tons of guys drafted. Coaching transition," McElroy said. "They did bring in a couple pieces for sure, he brought with him a couple guys from Arizona. But it's hard for me at this point to anticipate them fairing very well in the Big Ten."

Stars from last year, like Michael Penix Jr., Dillon Johnson, and Rome Odunze, are now gone. The team lost even more players to the portal.

Former Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers is the expected starter at quarterback. The team added players like former Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Jayden Wayne and former Arizona Wildcats receiver Jordan Washington from the portal.

McElroy predicted further, saying that anything other than reaching a bowl game would be "impressive" for Washington this season.

"...At this point, anything beyond bowl eligibility, would be pretty dang impressive. I think six, seven wins for Washington is the bare minimum," McElroy said. "I don't anticipate them missing a bowl game, but I also think this transition has a chance to be much more difficult."

If Fisch cannot bring Washington to a bowl game, it would be the first time the program has not made one since 2009. The year before that, in 2008, Washington went 0-12.

Washington opens the year with the Weber State Wildcats on Aug. 31.

Related: David Pollack Names ‘Perfect Team’ To Join Big Ten In Conference Realignment