CHICAGO — Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez won’t predict a record for 2009 that he would consider a successful season.

But he’s not putting success on the backburner.

“If we're not in a bowl game, we're all going to be ticked,” Rodriguez said Monday during Day One of Big Ten football Media Day.

As would many coaches, Rodriguez laughed when a reporter asked if a 7-5 record would satisfy him. Coming off last season’s dismal 3-9 campaign -- the most losses in school history -- another season without a bowl game would do more than make people “ticked.”

Rodriguez made it very clear that he wished to put last year’s forgettable season in the past.

"Our guys, the only thing I talk to them about is, we expect to compete for championships,” he said.

At this point, every team is “competing for championships,” but after a season with the most losses in school history, many are confidently writing Michigan off that route.

For the second consecutive season, the media did not peg Michigan to finish in the top three in the Big Ten. From 1997 to 2007, the Wolverines were never expected to finish lower than second in the conference. Since 1969, Michigan has missed the National preseason Top 25 ranking three times (1969, 1985 and 2008).

After last season’s dreadful showing and looming questions at major positions, no one expected the media to name Michigan as a preseason favorite.

But there’s the sense of a larger power shift. As Michigan has slipped, other coaches have taken notice.

“One of the things when I was growing up in the state of Ohio, it was kind of a two-team conference, and there's no question that that's changed now,” Illinois coach Ron Zook said, who’s 55.

Michigan will need to make tremendous strides this season to battle Ohio State for the conference crown.

The likelihood of that feat is beyond slim. But even without a return to the immediate top of the conference, this season will inevitably be a huge test for Rodriguez and his staff.

Even though he won’t predict wins and losses, per se, Rodriguez knows the Wolverines must be more competitive in the conference. But sky-high expectations are out the window.

“A lot of good things have to happen for us, and a lot of bad things have to happen for someone else,” Rodriguez said. “But if we're not competing for it, and being more competitive in some situations, then I don't think we've made the progress we've wanted to."

Starting quarterback?: Not anytime soon.

It came as no surprise Monday that Rodriguez has not named a starting quarterback. Between freshmen Tate Forcier and Dernard Robinson and redshirt junior Nick Sheridan, the starting spot is still up for grabs.

After a promising performance in the Spring Game, Forcier has become a fan favorite. And his skill level and early understanding of the offense seem to make him a front-runner for the job. But Rodriguez isn’t ready to take things so lightly.

“You get nervous as a coach when you talk about possibly playing true freshmen anywhere, particularly at quarterback,” Rodriguez said. “But I have all the confidence in the world that our coaches and Tate will put the work in to get ready.”

Rodriguez said he has yet to see Robinson throw, but as many expected, Robinson’s blazing speed has already been impressive.

"Just judging from what he did last year, and talking to the strength coaches, he's already running and doing the conditioning, and within two weeks, he was already making all the runs and doing all that stuff that some of the guys that have been here a year and a half do,” Rodriguez said.

Many have ruled Sheridan out of the running, but Rodriguez was quick to note that Sheridan has become “a different guy.”

“He's faster, and talking to (strength and conditioning coach Mike) Barwis, he's running better than he's ever been.”

Freshmen come to town: Rodriguez said Monday that all 22 incoming freshmen will be academically eligible for the fall. The only freshman not on campus is slot receiver Jeremy Gallon, who qualified academically just last month.

With the dismissal of slot receiver Justin Feagin, Gallon could likely see playing time along with sophomore Martavious Odoms and redshirt freshmen Terrance Robinson and Roy Roundtree.

Rodriguez said the only injury to report was that of freshman running back Fitzgerald Toussaint.