The 2024 Michigan football season is just over a month away. We only have to get through a few more Saturdays until the Wolverines will be back in the Big House.
Big Ten Media Days were this week and many view that as unoffical start of the season. Fall camp starts on July 31 for Michigan football and yes, that's just a few days away.
That means it's a perfect time for some prognostications. Despite all the departures, Michigan football is loaded with talent. Sherrone Moore is a rising star and here are five bold predictions for his first season as the Wolverines head coach.
Donovan Edwards will be First-Team All-Big Ten
I just have a feeling in my gut that Donovan Edwards is going to have a huge season. He's grown and matured over the years and nothing made me happier than seeing him score those two touchdowns in the national championship game.
Big Game Don is going to need to be more consistent this season but with more carries, he will shine. The only time he's been the starter, at the end of 2022, he dominated and had 100-yard games against Ohio State, Purdue, and TCU. He had 50-plus yard runs in each.
Edwards is the kind of back that will get one, one, one, two, three, and then 50. I do think we saw a more patient back during the spring. As RB1, he won't be pressing as much. He also knows that he needs a big season if he wants to be an early draft pick and I expect around 1,500 total yards.
The Ohio State backs are great. Penn State's are too, but I just have a feeling that Edwards has a true breakout season which earns him First-Team All-Big Ten.
Will Johnson will be college football's best defender
The former five-star cornerback has more than lived up to the hype. He didn't back down from the legacy of Charles Woodson and so far, Johnson has done a damn good job of living up to it.
In two seasons, he has seven interceptions. He had an interception that set up a touchdown against Ohio State, in a game Michigan football won by six. Johnson also picked off Washington in the national title game early in the second half.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound corner was the top-rated player in EA Sports College Football 25 and he'll be college football's best defender. There are a few awards for the best defender in college football and after playing last season at 70-75 percent, I expect Johnson to win at least one.
I also think he will work his way into the Heisman conversation. He probably won't be a finalist unless he convinces Sherrone Moore to let him play offense, but I could see a top-10 finish. That's how good I expect Johnson to be this season.
Michigan football stays unbeaten at home
There are some difficult games on the 2024 Michigan football schedule. However, three of the four most difficult are at the Big House which will prove to be a huge advantage.
Texas isn't going to be easy. The Longhorns made the College Football Playoff for a reason. Quinn Ewers is a great quarterback and their defensive front is stout.
But Michigan has proven it can run on anyone. It will be a challenge and the entire college football world will be watching. Texas will be the first true test post-Harbaugh. If Michigan wins that game, they are a national title contender, in the eyes of the pundits again.
Michigan football might have the best defense in the country. The Wolverines also haven't lost a game at home in three years. I wouldn't be surprised if Texas or Oregon found a way to win in Ann Arbor, but I'm going to be bold and say that Michigan wins low-scoring games against each and also beats USC to keep the home winning streak alive.
A split against Texas/Oregon might be more likely. But by November, Michigan should be settled at quarterback. Although Texas beat Alabama last year, Michigan was a different kind of tough, so toss a coin but I think an undefeated home slate isn't impossible or even unrealistic. At all.
Alex Orji turns QB position into a strength
My prediction is that Michigan football will start the season with a platoon of sorts at quarterback between Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle.
At Big Ten Media Days this week, Sherrone Moore talked about how Tuttle has been throwing with "great velocity and accuracy" during summer workouts. The former four-star quarterback has started games before and sat behind J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix.
Orji brings a dynamic running ability to the table. He's also got a strong arm. However, he needs to be accurate and I feel like we could have a similar situation in 2022 when there isn't a clear No. 1.
But maybe by the end of the Texas game, it will be clear that Orji should be the guy. Running quarterbacks can be dangerous and the idea of defenses facing the read-option with Edwards/Orji frequently has to be frightening for defenses.
There could be some rough moments. I'm also not saying Orji will become Jalen Milroe, but I think he'll be in the ballpark by November.
A Michigan 4-peat
This is another bold prediction but hear me out. I'm not saying that Michigan football will be undefeated once again this season.
This November, I can finally see Ohio State getting the best of the Wolverines in Columbus. The fans will celebrate like the world was saved from cataclysm only to realize that in order to win the Big Ten championship, Ohio State will have to beat Michigan the next week in Indianapolis.
At this point, Ohio State would be 12-0. A playoff berth would be clinched and the Michigan monkey would be off the back of the players and head coach Ryan Day. U-M, on the other hand, would be frothing at the mouth.
The scenario of a Big Ten title rematch isn't that far-fetched. Oregon plays Ohio State at home and Michigan on the road.
There could easily be a three-way tie. Or, if Ohio State is as good as they think they are, they'll beat Oregon and Michigan will too. Penn State will choke and the Wolverines will beat out Oregon by a game giving TV executives the dream scenario of 'The Game' two weeks in a row.
Just saying, it could happen.
And one week after beating Michigan, the Buckeyes would have to try to do it again on a neutral field. That would have been a tough ask for Michigan the past three years and it's a big ask for Ohio State.
It would be fascinating to watch and I could see Michigan football getting the last laugh as both teams head into the College Football Playoff.