Notre Dame football ranked below Michigan in Coaches poll

The preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released today. Notre Dame football came in at No. 9.

This time of year is always fun in college football. We start to see some of the preseason polls that matter get released. Make no mistake, the polls matter. They matter because the College Football Playoff committee are human beings. They make decisions based on all of the data they receive — including who was ranked where when the games took place. It impacts every team, including Notre Dame football.

The preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released today and Notre Dame came in at No. 9. Most expected the Irish to be in the top ten on the back of an appearance in the College Football Playoff and the return of some key players from that squad.

Should Notre Dame have been ranked higher? Probably.

The Michigan Wolverines came in at No. 7. The Wolverines finished 10-3 last season, with one of those three losses coming at the hands of a Notre Dame team that was essentially starting what would be its backup quarterback.

Michigan saw ten key players leave the program last season, including two impact pass-rushers, one of the best linebackers in the country, one of the best corners in the country and an elite tight end. They also lost a second corner, an offensive tackle, a starting running back and a solid safety.

Notre Dame lost elite players at receiver and running back. They lost their starting center and a guard, a tight end who will be easily replaced, a pair of solid linebackers, an elite defensive tackle and an All-American corner.

Both teams suffered significant losses. Both teams return starting quarterbacks and NFL talent on the offensive line. Both teams return depth at the skill positions. Outside of quarterback, Michigan MIGHT be in a better position from a personnel standpoint on offense. But the Wolverines are also going through a coordinator change on that side of the ball.

Defensively, the Irish have the edge from a depth and experience standpoint.

You can make a solid argument that the Irish should be ranked ahead of the Wolverines, but the coaches didn’t see it that way. Michigan has a lot of hype heading into the 2019 season, and the coaches who voted have apparently bought into it. Additionally, it doesn’t help that the last image people have of Notre Dame football is the whooping they took from Clemson — albeit in the College Football Playoff.

The rankings do matter. But the game between the two at the Big House on October 26 with put all questions to bed about who has the better squad in 2019.