The countdown to the start of the Michigan football season is nearly finished. The Wolverines will open the season in just six days.
You can feel the optimism surrounding the program. Michigan football is ranked 14th in the AP poll, but it's safe to say that U-M is being overlooked in the playoff race, with most of the experts leaving the Wolverines on the outside looking in.
After an 8-5 season, losing multiple first-round picks, and having a freshman starting quarterback, it makes sense. There are some lingering questions about this Michigan football team, and here's a look at a few that need to be answered as the season starts.
How will Bryce Underwood fare as a freshman?
The biggest X-factor in college football this season is Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood.
If Underwood, the 6-foot-4, 228-pound freshman, is an All-Big Ten caliber quarterback as a freshman, the ceiling for this team is much higher. There's a difference between being the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and an All-Big Ten quarterback.
What if Underwood is the strength of the offense instead of what hinders it? The quarterback was the worst part of the offense last season. What if it's now among the best? The running backs should be elite, but it's hard not to see Underwood emerge as a playmaker. He's the No. 1 overall recruit from 2025.
There will be growing pains. How many and how the freshman responds to them will likely determine how far Michigan football goes this season, and whether or not it will be in the playoff picture.
The offensive line
We have heard about the improvement of the offensive line throughout fall camp. However, there were positive rumblings about the offensive front last season and we know how that turned out.
Some camp rumblings you can believe. Others don't pan out. For Michigan football to meet its potential the offensive line answering its question marks in the affirmative is nearly as important as Underwood operating at a high level.
The Wolverines have two elite running backs and have a five-star quarterback, maybe the most talented in program history. But that talent won't be able to shine if the offensive line doesn't.
Greg Crippen, Giovanni El-Hadi, and Evan Link will be back in their second seasons as starters. Andrew Sprague might be the best player in the starting five, as long as he takes an expected jump, but he offered a promising effort against Alabama in the bowl game.
Nathan Efobi is a former four-star recruit. Lawrence Hattar is a former D-2 All-American who is expected to be one of the top backups this season, and could still step in if needed. Yet, Efobi is the epxected starter.
The loss of Andrew Babalola was a hit. He could have been the starter by the end of the season. Blake Frazier is a name to know. Don't forget about Ty Haywood, who could be an answer at guard, too.
Overall, it feels like there is more depth and talent. Luis Castillo, a former NFL assistant hired by Sherrone Moore, to help with the offensive line, has also made an impact.
So expect Michigan football's offensive line to be better, but until we see how they fare against Oklahoma, it's still an unanswered question.
The secondary
The wide receiver room would be fair here. That's another question mark. Yet, with better play from the quarterback, the receivers will be better.
Donaven McCulley has proven he can produce in the Big Ten. Semaj Morgan and Fred Moore can play, too, as long as they have someone to get them the ball.
Underwood can do more than that. So let's focus on the one thing that's worrying about the defense. Michigan's front seven might be the best in college football. The defensive line might not be able to beat Ohio State nearly by itself, as it did last season, but it will be dominant.
The defense will be the defense from the bowl game, only it could be even better. The secondary will be the tipping point. Cornerback depth is a concern. We haven't seen Jyaire Hill play like CB1 for an entire season. Zeke Berry is a solid No. 2 but there isn't a clear cut third option.
There are also questions about when Rod Moore will return. It feels like in one of the first few games, but will he be as effective? It's going to take some time. I wouldn't bet against him, though.
At cornerback, ShamarI Earls and Jo'Ziah Edmond are each candidates to emerge. Caleb Anderson is another. But there are still some things to sort out. If the secondary is a strength, though, which it can be, this will be the best defense in college football.