Michigan football’s defense of its 2023 national championship faces a historic obstacle, even as the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams this season.

The Wolverines enter the 2024 season ranked No. 8 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, released Monday. It’s the lowest coaches poll ranking for a defending champ since Auburn opened the 2011 season at No. 19. Although Michigan returns several star defenders, including cornerback Will Johnson and defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, the Wolverines have just one of 11 starters returning on offense — tight end Colston Loveland.

Michigan, which was placed on three years’ probation in April due to violations during a COVID-19 dead period and for having noncoaching staff members participate in impermissible roles under former coach Jim Harbaugh, is also facing further potential sanctions from the NCAA as part of the governing body’s investigation into last season’s sign-stealing scandal involving former assistant Connor Stalions. First-year head coach Sherrone Moore, promoted after Harbaugh departed for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, is facing a Level 2 violation of NCAA bylaws, according to a draft notice of allegations delivered to the university last week.

But before that is settled, the Wolverines will face a challenge on the field, with three teams on their 2024 schedule — Ohio State, Oregon and Texas — opening the coaches poll at Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Michigan is set to host Texas in Week 2 (on Sept. 7) and Oregon in Week 10 (Nov. 2) before finishing the regular season at Ohio State on Nov. 30.

The Wolverines face only one other team ranked in the preseason coaches poll’s top 25, however: New Big Ten member Southern Cal, which opens the season at No. 23, visits Ann Arbor in Week 4 (Sept. 21).

Michigan also has a rematch of the CFP title game in Week 6 (Oct. 5) with a visit to Washington. Another new Big Ten member, the Huskies enter the season unranked in the coaches poll after losing much of their talent on offense, as well as head coach Kalen DeBoer (Alabama) and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb (Seattle Seahawks). Washington, which opens at No. 26, is the first national title game participant to open the following season outside the top 25 in the coaches poll since the start of the Bowl Championship Series in 1998.

THE BIG QUESTIONS: Michigan football's challenges for 2024

Georgia, which finished last season ranked third, opens the 2024 season in the top spot in the coaches poll after receiving 46 of 55 first-place votes. Ohio State received seven first-place votes and Texas and Michigan received one first-place vote apiece. Alabama, which lost to Michigan in the CFP semifinals last season, opens at No. 5.

In addition to Michigan, OSU and Oregon, two other programs in the Big Ten — now at 18 schools —open 2024 ranked in the top 25 of the coaches poll: Penn State at No. 9 and Iowa at No. 25. Wisconsin, Maryland and Nebraska also received votes in the poll. The SEC, which also expanded to 18 schools in 2024, has nine teams in the top 25, a record for the preseason coaches poll (though not for the conference itself, as the SEC had nine ranked teams in the Sept. 8, 2015, poll).

2024 US LBM Preseason College Football Coaches Poll

1. Georgia (1,364 points)

2. Ohio State (1,302)

3. Oregon (1,228)

4. Texas (1,223)

5. Alabama (1,077)

6. Mississippi (1,019)

7. Notre Dame (969)

8. Michigan (944)

9. Penn State (889)

10. Florida State (867)

11. Missouri (808)

12. LSU (742)

13. Utah (665)

14. Clemson (657)

15. Tennessee (621)

16. Oklahoma (609)

17. Kansas State (416)

18. Oklahoma State (359)

19. Miami (292)

20. Texas A&M (273)

21. Arizona (230)

22. North Carolina State (216)

23. Southern Carolina (199)

24. Kansas (186)

25. Iowa (148)

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football ranks No. 8 in preseason coaches' poll