Expectations Unknown as New Season Grows Closer for Michigan

© Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan is coming off a season that took fans on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. From scandals and suspensions to beating rivals and lifting the national championship trophy, 2023 will always be a season to remember. Now the focus has shifted from what happened to what will be as a new season brings new beginnings.

The Michigan program saw plenty of change in the 2024 offseason: Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL and brought a few coaches with him. Michigan lost many key players, with a record-setting number heading to the NFL. The Wolverines' offense took the biggest hit with all five starting offensive linemen gone, the star quarterback gone and the No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers gone.

Sherrone Moore took over as head coach after Harbaugh's departure. While some of the faces on the staff are the same, Moore had to bring in new assistants. The revamped coaching staff is striving to keep the Maize and Blue at the top.

This is the season of Michigan's Team 145. It is their time to leave their mark in the Michigan history books.  What can Team 145 do in the aftermath of unprecedented turnover in Ann Arbor, Mich.?

Defense Is the Key

In 2023, Michigan was a very balanced team. Team 144 made plays on both sides of the ball in key moments. This year's team looks to be more one-sided, with an emphasis on defense, as most of the question marks are on offense. Indeed, the Wolverines will lean heavily on their defense to accomplish their goals in 2024. 

The "big four" will lead the defense: defensive back Will Johnson, edge rusher Josaiah Stewart and defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. New defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale will need all four to step up for Michigan to have a successful year. The good news for Wink is that he will be leaning on three projected first-round draft picks in Johnson, Graham and Grant. All three were key contributors to Michigan's national title run last season and are expected to be leaders on and off the field in 2024.

Biggest Question Mark

The biggest unknown heading into the 2024 season involves the most prominent position—quarterback. Moore and newly promoted offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell will have fall camp to decide the starter and set the offensive identity.

The QB battle looks to be between three players: Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle and Davis Warren.  The QB who wins the job will shape the offense Campbell orchestrates.

If Orji wins the job, the Wolverines will likely feature run-pass-option (RPO) offensive schemes. Last year, Orji displayed the ability to make plays with his feet, but fans have yet to see him featured in a passing attack. Tuttle and Warren are more traditional, pro-style QBs. They both tend to stay in the pocket and rely on solid offensive line play to keep them upright.

Expectations of Michigan

Expectations of Michigan fans for Team 145 are all over the place, but generally fall within three general categories:

1. repeat as national champions

2. playing with house money

3. many question marks

The fans in category 1 believe the champs will be able to replicate their achievement of last year despite all the changes. The fans in category 2 are still hungover from Michigan's first national championship since 1997 and would be happy even if the Wolverines went 6-6 this year. Finally, the fans in category 3 believe that while a playoff run might be possible, many questions are unanswered.

Realistic Expectations for Michigan

At the Big Ten Conference Media Days, coach Moore described this Wolverines team as “tough, smart, dependable, relentless, enthusiastic and together.” He also said, “Team 145 has ... done a really good job up to this point in taking the necessary steps to be elite, to do all the things that we set out to do—win the big games, beat our rivals, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten, go to College Football Playoff and win it.”

Moore's focus is to not only win the B1G and beat rivals but also to win the national championship. This mindset differs from that which prevailed in previous years when the primary emphasis was beating Ohio State and winning the B1G championship. 

The goal to repeat as national champions is a lofty one. With Michigan's daunting 2024 schedule and all the new faces, fans should not despair if the Wolverines lose two or three games this season.

Michigan will have the chance to move the goalpost early. In Week 2, the Wolverines play the Texas Longhorns. In most preseason polls, the Longhorns are ranked significantly higher than the Wolverines. Hence, the outcome of the early intersectional matchup between Michigan and Texas will shed light on whether the Wolverines are genuine contenders to make another deep playoff run.