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Michigan football: Who are the Wolverines?

Michigan football still has a lot of things to figure out.

By Kristina Hopper

Sep 28, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore on the sideline in the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore on the sideline in the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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Coming off a 27-24 victory against Minnesota and securing the Little Brown jug, a Michigan fan may still be turning over in their sleep, unsure of what the future holds. Michigan football barely escaped against Minnesota after at the start of the fourth quarter being up 24-3. Minnesota would score three touchdowns and get within 27-24 with only seconds left in the game. This a week after taking all four downs at the end of a game to beat USC.

Michigan football is winning games. But they are barely winning. An optimistic fan would say the Wolverines are 4-1 with only one loss being against Texas, who may well be a national champion. This isn't the same team as last year but they're still winning games.

The defense is still imposing with star players like Mason Graham and Will Johnson. The run game is still intact. Kalel Mullings is the hero of the USC game.

The pessimistic side of Michigan football's 4-1 start

Then there is another side. A slightly pessimistic fan, who still bleeds Michigan Maize and Blue, would counter that argument with the fact that they're narrowly escaping games.

Last year, the game would be over in the third quarter. Coach Moore has already switched quarterbacks from Davis Warren to Alex Orji.

Orji threw for 32 yards against USC, but 32 yards won't be nearly enough to beat the likes of Oregon or Ohio State. Then there is the fact, that with the transfer portal in college football, Sherrone Moore and his staff couldn't recruit a more viable choice at quarterback.

The early season schedule has been favorable to the Wolverines with the first five games being in Ann Arbor. Now the schedule shifts. Two road games against Washington and Illinois. A always intense rivalry, no matter the records, against Michigan State and then the Oregon Ducks come to the Big House.

The next four games will tell a lot about who the Michigan Wolverines really are. Either a team that is a legitimate contender for the college football playoff or a team that will run out of patches to fix glaring holes.

For now, even the most optimistic Michigan fan or the most pessimistic Michigan football fan can hold onto the fact that they are 4-1. Some teams in college football would happily take that record. No questions asked.

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