Michigan Sinks in Preseason Rankings After Five-Star Freshman Injury
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The loss of Brandon McCoy Jr. drops the Wolverines to No. 16 in the latest CBS Sports Top 25 And 1.
Michigan's outlook for the 2026-27 season took a significant hit Tuesday, as CBS Sports first reported, following the announcement that five-star prospect Brandon McCoy Jr. is sidelined for the full season. According to CBS Sports, the 6-foot-5 guard suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the final exhibition of the team's nine-day European tour.
McCoy, who ranks 11th in the Class of 2026 per 247Sports, was expected to be a starter for the Wolverines. In the first two games of the foreign tour, he averaged 4.0 steals, 5.0 rebounds, and 14.5 points. Due to the loss of McCoy from the rotation, CBS Sports moved Michigan down to No. 16 in Version 26 of its Top 25 And 1 preseason rankings.
The injury adds pressure to head coach Mike Boynton, who took over the program in July after former coach Dusty May departed for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. CBS Sports reports that Boynton, a former Oklahoma State head coach, signed a two-year contract with only the first year guaranteed. While Boynton is not required to lead the team to a second consecutive national championship, the outlet notes that the loss of the incoming freshman makes the task of achieving a high level of success significantly harder.