The Jim Harbaugh honeymoon in Ann Arbor came to a screeching halt in 2017.

Michigan went 8-5 in Harbaugh’s third and worst season, losing to both Ohio State and Michigan State again. That’s the storyline nationally, anyway. Look a little closer and you would’ve seen that Michigan returned fewer starters than anyone in the country. That doesn’t mean an eight-win season is acceptable at Michigan – Harbaugh makes far too much for that – just that there’s more to the Wolverines’ 2017 struggles than the record would indicate.

Pressure will be on Michigan next season either way. There's plenty of experience returning for the Wolverines this time, and they’ve got a roster capable of winning a Big Ten title.

But if Michigan again struggles in 2018, expect for angst to really ratchet up in Ann Arbor.

Michigan Spring Game: April 14

Editor’s Note: This is the 14th part of a 25-part series. Using our still-too-early Top 25, 247Sports is giving a post-National Signing Day outlook for college football’s top teams.

Offseason Outlook

(Returning Starters: Offense – 7, Defense – 9)

Michigan’s 2018 offseason will be defined by one overriding story – Shea Patterson. But we’ll get there in a bit. First, let’s look at the Wolverine players assured of eligibility next season.

Whoever plays quarterback will have a litany of skill talent around him with very few departures on offense. Ty Isaac is gone, but the Wolverines bring back the pair of Chris Evans and Karan Higdon. Evans, by the way, is one of the better pass-catching backs in the Big Ten. Receiver is an area the Wolverines are well stocked. The offense wasn’t pass-heavy in 2017 in large part due to suspect QB play. But true freshmen like Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black flashed brightly at times. Eddie McDoom and Kekoa Crawford are also solid contributors. Michigan could use more depth at tight end, but the combination of Zach Gentry and Sean McKeon combined for 604 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Gentry, particularly, turned into a vertical threat averaging a team-best 17.8 yards per catch (among players with more than 10 catches).

If the Wolverine offense opens up a bit more in 2017 under the leadership of a new OC – a position yet to be determined – some of these pass catchers could really shine.

Michigan will need to replace left tackle Mason Cole, who was its top-graded lineman in 2017 per PFF College. Also departing is starting center Patrick Kugler. The top-ranked center prospect in the 2017 class, Cesar Ruiz, is a good bet to take over for Kugler. As for left tackle, look for Grant Newsome to return strong after a gruesome leg injury kept him off the field all of last season.

It should be noted Michigan utilizes its fullback more than most team, and it’s losing a pair of them (Henry Poggi and Khalid Hill) to graduation. Ben Mason will need to carry the load at that spot with 2018 signee, Ben VanSumeren, likely serving as his backup.

Don Brown’s defense was again strong in 2017, as the Wolverines finished sixth nationally in yards allowed per play. The foundation of that group is back next season, too.

Obviously, there will be a 282-pound Maurice Hurst-sized hole on the defense next year. A PFF College darling, Hurst rated as the nation’s top overall defensive player a year ago. His traditional stats were solid, too, as Hurst piled up 59 tackles and 13 tackles for loss as an interior defender.

Michigan will also miss star linebacker Mike McCray, who totaled 79 tackles and 16 tackles for loss a year ago.

There isn’t a dearth of talent left behind for Michigan, though. Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich should combine to be, arguably, the best pass-rushing tandem in the country. The pair totaled 30.5 tackles for loss a year ago, and Gary, the top-rated player in the 2016 class per the 247Sports Composite, is only going to get better entering his junior season. As for defensive tackle, 2017 five-star Aubrey Solomon projects quite well as a possible Hurst replacement.

On the second level, the Wolverines have a pair of potential All-American linebackers in Khaleke Hudson and Devin Bush. Both of them graded out as an 87.8 or better a year ago. Bush, who had a team high 95 tackles, is one of the best inside linebackers in the country. Hudson, who had 77 tackles and 16 tackles for loss, did a hell of a Jabrill Peppers impression last year at Viper. In fact, there was little to no drop off. The Wolverines do need to replace McCray on the weak side; look for Devin Gil as a possible fill in there.

Lavert Hill graded out as PFF College’s eighth-ranked corner a year ago, and David Long wasn’t much worse at 52nd in the country on the other side of the field. Michigan should again feature one of the country’s top pass defenses.

In fact, the defensive unit as a whole should remain one of college football's elite groups.

Offseason Storyline to Follow

Now we can talk about quarterbacks.

Michigan’s 2018 fate is tied closely to who plays the position. If it’s Brandon Peters or Dylan McCaffrey following the departure of Wilton Speight– whose situation requires an entire explanation on its own – one of the two will have to make a major step forward. Both finished the season with a completion rate below 55 percent, and that’s a big reason why Michigan’s passing offense finished 111th nationally.

Peters flashed at times in late-season action as a redshirt freshman. But he also showed fluctuating accuracy and had a propensity for ill-advised throws. Still, if the offense opened up a bit, Peters has the type of arm that can potentially elevate a unit.

Speight might be back at Michigan in 2018. He announced his intention to transfer shortly after the regular season concluded. But with Patterson’s status up in the air Michigan’s season-opening starter the last two years could return to the Wolverines. If he does, Speight is a solid presence at best. He’s a capable leader for Michigan, but he’s prone to mistakes and hasn’t shown the ability to hit big throws when needed.

Both could be solid to good options for Michigan next season.

But Patterson, if eligible, could be a presence that elevates Michigan to the status of national contender.

An Ole Miss transfer, Patterson would normally have to sit out a season per NCAA transfer rules. However, Patterson is appealing that status to the NCAA on the grounds Ole Miss misled him in his recruitment – the Rebels are currently under the thumb of severer sanctions dating back to Hugh Freeze’s time at the school.

If Patterson is cleared to play, he’d be a game-changing presence for Michigan.

The top-ranked QB in the 2016 class, Patterson is an electric presence with a strong arm and accuracy. He made some poor decisions at times in Ole Miss’ wide-open offense, leading to 12 interceptions in 10 games with the Rebels. But in Harbaugh’s more restrained pro-style scheme, Patterson’s skills will be better directed. At the same time, Patterson should be able to open Michigan’s offense up in a way it hasn’t been since Harbaugh arrived.

Don’t mistake Patterson as a “spread QB.” He’s perfectly capable of working under center, and he’ll excel out of play-action.

If Patterson is eligible, Michigan would immediately jump into my top 10.

Instant-Impact Addition

Cameron McGrone (LB): The real answer here is Patterson, but this former five-star linebacker isn’t a bad choice. A future middle linebacker in the Bush mold, McGrone gets downhill and attacks with a rare intensity. He’s got a good feel for spacing and angles, and he’s got the quickness to eventually be a good cover linebacker. Michigan’s well-stocked defense will likely keep McGrone off-the-field outside of a rotational role, but he’s certainly a plug-and-play special teams contributor as a true freshman.

Previous Teams Ranked in 247Sports' Top 25 Countdown

No. 25: South Carolina

No. 24: Notre Dame

No. 23: Oregon

No. 22: USC

No. 21: Kansas State

No. 20: LSU

No. 19: UCF

No. 18: West Virginia

No. 17: Virginia Tech

No. 16: TCU

No. 15: Florida State

No. 14: Mississippi State

No. 13: Stanford