The month of July is here, which means we’re finally getting into the preseason for college football. While media days are still a few weeks away, players across the country are streaming back onto campus and starting to ramp things up and prepare for the start of fall camp.
It’s going to be a historic college football season across the country, with conference realignment and an expanded College Football Playoff causing turmoil. It’s also going to be a different season for the Oregon Ducks, who will be competing in the Big Ten Conference for the first time starting August 1. To predict what Dan Lanning and his team can expect this year, and to preview opponents on Oregon’s schedule and beyond, we’ll go through each member of the conference and detail everything Duck fans need to know.
Next we go to Michigan.
Team previews: Illinois Fighting Illini – Indiana Hoosiers – Iowa Hawkeyes – Maryland Terrapins
Position preview: Quarterbacks – Running Backs
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This year, the Michigan Wolverines will look a lot different than the 15-0 National Champion Wolverines of 2023, but they are still a team to be feared. With Sherrone Moore taking the reins from Jim Harbaugh, the program will certainly take on a different shape, and I think Michigan has the potential to surprise people this season despite the amount of talent they lost this offseason.
This year, Alex Orji will take over the role of QB1. JJ McCarthy leaves big shoes to fill, and while Orji is a capable QB, he still has a lot of work to do to get the Wolverines where they need to be. Donovan Edwards will have to do his best to replace Blake Corum, as a large part of the Michigan offense relies on the run game. Neither task will be easy, but both players are capable.
Here’s a closer look at the Wolverines in 2024.
Meet the coach
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Sherron Moore (3-0 record)
Sherrone Moore is the new coach of the Michigan Wolverines. We got a taste of Moore as a coach last year when he served as the Wolverines’ interim coach during Jim Harbaugh’s suspension. Moore won all three games as interim coach and will look to maintain his perfect record this season for as long as possible. Before taking on the role of interim coach, Moore was the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator coach, a position he has held since 2021. Before coming to Michigan in 2018, Moore made stops at Louisville and Central Michigan.
Recent History
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
The last decade has been good for the Michigan Wolverines. Since 2014, the Wolverines have had just two seasons with fewer than eight wins and six seasons with 10+ wins. Michigan has defeated Ohio State – their biggest rival – in each of the last three seasons and did so this (last season) en route to a 15-0 season and a national championship. Much of that success can be attributed to their former head coach, Jim Harbaugh, who moved on to the NFL. Now it’s time for the Wolverines to prove they can succeed without Harbaugh.
Biggest departures
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
HC Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers) | Statistics 2023: 15-0 coaching record
Quarterback JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings | Statistics 2023: 240/332 (72.3%) passes, 2991 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs
RB Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams) | Statistics 2023: 258 runs, 1245 rushing yards, 27 TDs
LB Junior Colson (Los Angeles Chargers) | 2023 Stats: 95 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 PBU
DB Mike Sainristil (Washington Commanders) | 2023 Stats: 44 total tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 6 INTs, 2 FFs, 6 PBUs
Biggest new additions
Joe Rondone – Arizona Republic
LB Jaishawn Barham (Maryland) | 2023 Stats: 58 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 FF
S Jaden Mangham (Michigan State) | Statistics 2023: 53 total tackles, 1 TFL, 4 INTs
WR CJ Charleston (Youngstown State) | Statistics 2023: 33 catches, 503 yards, 4 TDs
QB Jadyn Davis (High School) | 247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-Star, No. 9 QB in Class of 2024
Where they stand in the Oregon Ducks schedule
(Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
October starts hot for Oregon, with a home game against Ohio State on the 12th, and November doesn’t get any easier. The Ducks have a game against Michigan in Ann Arbor on November 2nd. This is a game to mark your calendar for. Although the Wolverines are weaker than they were a year ago, getting to the Big House is never easy (except in 2007), and this game will be an uphill battle.
Total Win Over/Under
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9.5 wins
A number of 9.5 may seem low for the defending national champions, but I think that number is a bit high, after all the players and coaches this offseason, I don’t think the Wolverines can contain their blitz from last year.
Bowl projection
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Citrus Bowl vs. Oklahoma
The Citrus Bowl is a bit of a step back for two teams with such rich traditions like Michigan and Oklahoma, but as one of the best matchups outside of the playoffs, this would be a fantastic bowl game.
Season outlook
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
The Wolverines have a lot of questions to answer. Having to replace a head coach, starting quarterback, running back and several key defensive players is not ideal, so it’s hard to predict where Michigan will be in December. I think they will be a quality team that can beat any team at any time, but I don’t see them as title contenders or College Football Playoff contenders.
