The 2024 version of Michigan features many interesting storylines for a team coming off a national championship. Sherrone Moore took over the head coaching reins after Jim Harbaugh departed for the NFL in January and has been tasked with replacing many of the core pieces that led the Wolverines to a 15-0 season in 2023.
Offense
Michigan is replacing 10 offensive starters from their 2023 team. The only returning starter is TE Colston Loveland, who is one of the top TE’s in college football and a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Loveland is the go-to pass catcher for the Wolverines and was featured in week 1 against Fresno State, catching 8 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Getting the ball to Loveland consistently hinges on one of the bigger question marks on the Michigan squad: quarterback. All offseason, it was assumed that Redshirt sophomore Alex Orji would be the starter, and the offense would be built around his dual-thread ability. Instead, the Wolverines started former walk-on Davis Warren in the opener. Warren threw for 118 yards with a touchdown and interception against Fresno State. His ability as a passer is shaky, and his experience is virtually non-existent. Orji figures to factor in the offensive gameplan in some way (32 rushing yards and 1 touchdown pass in the opener), but Warren appears to be who the Michigan coaches trust the most in their traditional dropback passing game.
Michigan is breaking in 5 new starters on the offensive line and it showed in week 1. It is a veteran unit (4 of the 5 starters are in at least their 4th season at the college level), but is widely inexperienced. Redshirt freshman RT Evan Link had a rough debut and could be someone Texas targets early on Saturday.
RB Donovan Edwards was a part of a 1-2 punch with Blake Corum last year. With Corum gone, he is now sharing carries with Kalel Mullings, who is a former LB and led the Wolverines in carries (15) and rushing yards (92) in week 1.
Defense
If the Wolverines are going to win Saturday, it will likely be largely on the back of their defense. DT duo Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham are Michigan’s version of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat. Edge rusher Josaiah Stewart is a handful and registered 2 sacks in the season opener. It is very possible Michigan will trot out 3 first-round picks on the defensive line.
The backend of the defense is where the other first-rounder resides in CB Will Johnson. Johnson would have been a top-15 pick last year if draft-eligible and is in the conversation for the best corner in the country. Outside of Johnson and safety Makari Page, Michigan is breaking in quite a few new faces in the secondary.
It is tough to envision a scenario where Texas has continued success running the ball against a stout Michigan defensive front, so expect the Longhorns to attack the Wolverines secondary early and often with Quinn Ewers.
Final Thoughts
It is a little strange to see Texas as the overwhelming favorite on the road against the defending national champions. With Michigan replacing so many players and coaches, the Longhorns are the ones headed into this game with a good sense of who they are while having the experience factor on their side. Steve Sarkisian mentioned earlier this week that Texas will travel up to 45 players this week who traveled to Tuscaloosa last year.
Regardless of the outcome, these types of games are what make College Football special.
