Ahead of the 2024 season, here are three BOLD predictions for the Michigan Wolverines and Team 145:
The 2024 season is right around the corner for the Michigan Wolverines — 15 days to be exact — and it’s time to let our imaginations run wild. This is not the time for thoughtful or well-articulated predictions; now is the time for unabashed optimism and white-hot, BOLD predictions. Predictions that leave vapor trails behind them as the last syllables are muttered.
Last season, my bold predictions were:
“Michigan will have a 1,000-yard receiver”
Off by 211 yards and not bad considering Michigan starters did not play an entire game until November.
“Michigan does not go undefeated but wins the CFP by 14+”
We were right about the important part.
“Michigan defender challenges Hutchinson’s sack record”
Swing and a miss.
With no intentions of cooling down or fear of being wrong, let’s make some bold predictions for Team 145.
BOLD: Michigan leads the nation in sacks
In 2023, the Wolverines finished ranked No. 28 in sacks per game (2.60) and tied at No. 11 in total sacks (39). With the aggressive OG Wink Martindale taking the helm, expect this defense to deploy a myriad of exotic looks, pressures, sim-pressures, and blitzes from everywhere on the field. With weapons like Jaishawn Barham and Swiss Army knife Zeke Berry entering the fold this year, Martindale will have even more pass-rushing missiles to deploy at will.
What’s more, even if Martindale decides to only rush his four defensive linemen, the combination of Josaiah Stewart, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Derrick Moore, is one of the most dangerous pass-rushing lines the Wolverines have ever fielded.
Last season, Penn State led the nation with 49 sacks; expect Team 145 to go north of 50.
BOLDER: Michigan beats Ohio State for the fourth year in a row
By all indications, Ohio State is one of, if not, the most talented team in all of college football. Former Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer believes this could be “one of the most talented rosters in the last decade, maybe ever.” Fellow former Scarlet and Grey head coach, Jim Tressel , sees it similarly: “I don’t know if I have ever seen that many great players in that building all at once.”
With several key returners and a top group of transfers, this should be Ohio State’s year. Most are already chalking up the November 30 matchup with Michigan as a win for the Buckeyes. I mean, it has to be, right? After all, the Wolverines have not beaten the Buckeyes four years in a row since finishing off a quartet of consecutive wins in 1991. At least until this season.
Under the guidance of Sherrone Moore and what is sure to be a punishing run game, Michigan will attack Ohio State with a relentlessly physical attack between the tackles. While Ohio State head coach Ryan Day searches for the miracle cure to beat Michigan, Moore and company are focused solely on the potent antidote of running the football and the historical success that accompanies it. Since 2001, whoever won the rushing battle in “The Game,” won the game. When it comes to winning in the trenches, don’t bet against history, and don’t bet against Sherrone Moore.
The last time Michigan beat Ohio State four years in a row it was helped by the exceptional play of Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. To do it again, Michigan will need another Heisman contender to emerge.
BOLDEST: Michigan RB Donovan Edwards wins the Heisman Trophy
Originally, this was going to be “Donovan Edwards is a Heisman finalist,” but that is lame and lacks the backbone required for this exercise. Let’s stand on business, shall we?
With Moore and this offense steadfastly committed to running the football, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards is positioned to be one of the most productive players in the country — a role that almost played out to perfection in 2022 to Edwards’s predecessor. If Blake Corum does not go down with an injury in Week 11 against Illinois, and delivers a signature performance in a win over Ohio State, he likely wins the Heisman.
Moreover, after coming off a “down year” – a “down year” that included over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the national championship – Edwards will have a massive chip on his shoulder as he looks to reestablish himself as the force he was when he rushed for over 200 yards in Columbus in two years ago.
Entering 1991, Desmond Howard wasn’t the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy nationally or even on his own team. After an off-season of pundits writing “Blake Corum’s replacement” off, don’t be surprised to find out that Edwards didn’t write back.