So Michigan wants into the elite again, wants to be one of those teams that beats top-five schools on the road, wants to be respected and revered as a national power.
So the Wolverines think they're disciplined, poised and ready for the national and Big Ten title wars.
Well, that's fine. But forget Colorado. Tomorrow's Boston College game will show us what kind of team Michigan truly is.
Penn State would win this game, 49-0. Ohio State wouldn't run up the score - of course - but would win by at least 50. The Nebraskas, Tennessees and Florida States would eat the Eagles alive.
But Michigan won't. Lloyd Carr has said publicly that he doesn't believe in embarrassing lesser programs. But if Michigan deserves its No. 8 ranking, the Wolverines need to show they can focus against the weak as well as the strong.
They may have beaten Colorado, but if the Wolverines are to be champions, they must romp teams that don't match up with them.
Michigan rushing offense vs. Boston College rushing defense:
The Eagles aren't bad against the run. They limited their opponents to an average of 177 yards rushing in their first two games.
But their opponents were Hawaii and Virginia Tech.
Most defenses could do the Hula, lasso Hawaii's running backs with a flowery lei, and still stop the Rainbows. And the Hokies, while less of a mirage than the Rainbows, aren't that tough. A good defense would just switch from the Hula to the Hokey Pokey and everything would be fine.
Well, the Eagles can't dance.
Michigan's backs should shimmy and shake their way through the Boston College line and pick up some groovy yardage. Don't be surprised if Michigan quarterback Scott Dreisbach and cornerback Charles Woodson make cameo appearances in this bad ballet, either.
Advantage:
Michigan passing offense vs. Boston College passing defense:
Tai Streets is lovin' this. Tyrone Butterfield, Russell Shaw, Jerame Tuman and Mark Campbell are too.
And Dreisbach ... well, he's probably worried about getting too tired.
Boston College is pretty bad against the pass. The Eagles have given up an average of 185 yards in the air so far this season.
Dreisbach's average of 117 yards passing should jump dramatically tomorrow, and this could very well be a breakthrough game for Michigan's receivers.
All those razzle-dazzle plays, break 'em out Mr. Carr. This will just be a high-profile practice.
Advantage: Michigan
Boston College rushing offense vs. Michigan rushing defense:
Nightmares, man. Nightmares.
That big, mean guy named Jarrett Irons is going to send Boston College home in tears. So is that guy named Sword, that guy named Swett, that guy named Huff, that guy named Steele and that guy - whose name doesn't belong here but is tough anyway - named Copenhaver.
Michigan's defense is so suffocating, running backs who face the Wolverines would breathe easier with their heads buried into their pillows.
The Wolverines only allowed Colorado - then the fifth-ranked team in the nation and a national title contender - to just 70 yards rushing. And the Buffaloes had Lendon Henry and Herchell Troutman.
The Eagles have who? Mike Cloud and Quinton Lee. Both barely have over 100 yards rushing in two games combined.
If they can summon enough courage, they will earn the right to go back to Boston sobbing. When they rush for less than 50 yards apiece, it will be pretty sad.
Advantage: Michigan.
Boston College passing offense vs. Michigan passing defense:
If it weren't for Colorado's Koy Detmer, one of the nation's top quarterbacks, who threw for 287 yards last week, Michigan would not have given up an average of 233 yards passing in its first two games.
Charles Woodson is too good, and his help from Daydrion Taylor and Woodrow Hankins isn't bad, either. And don't forget about Chuck Winters, who redeemed himself by batting down his second Hail Mary encounter last week.
By the way, Boston College doesn't have a Detmer. No Doug Flutie, either. So there will be no miracles thrown in Ann Arbor tomorrow.
Matt Hasselbeck will complete a few passes, but look for his day to be a complete disappointment.
Advantage: Michigan
Special teams:
How about that Paul Peristeris?
The Greek has made Michigan's punting look as good as a plate of spinach pie. Carr has called him his most improved player, because Peristeris is kicking everything over 40 yards and Michigan's punt team is having trouble keeping up with him.
Boston College doesn't have a Greek, but the Eagles' punting is pretty good. Call it as good as baklava, because Jason Malecki is averaging a sugary 43.2 yards per punt.
As far as place-kicking goes, Michigan's Remy Hamilton and Boston College's John Matich have made a few and missed a few.
Special teams won't be especially interesting.
Advantage: Even
The Wolverines have just about all the advantages, but this game will test them. It will test their focus.
Last year, Michigan didn't really put away lowly Miami (Ohio) or Memphis, and the Wolverines have a long and distinguished tradition of playing down to the level of weak teams. National champions and Big Ten champions don't do that.
Tomorrow, Michigan has got to win big for the Wolverines to be considered a true national power. There can be no lapses of concentration, no soft quarters and no late touchdowns - no matter how bad the Eagles are this year.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Wolverines must be unsportsmanlike. Carr has said running up the score is an "indictment of his profession." And that's fine. The Wolverines don't have to score 70 points.
But anything less than a convincing Michigan victory will be an indictment of the Wolverines' chances for any kind of championship.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Boston College 3
Clarence Williams and the Michigan football team must hold onto the ball against Boston College tomorrow.