The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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50 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 1. NOV. 30 VS. OHIO STATE Michigan has one win in its last 15 tries against Ohio State, a 2011 victory sandwiched between a pair of seven-game losing streaks. The Buckeyes had great success against everyone during that stretch under head coaches Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer, but it's still sober- ing and well past time the Wolverines made this a rivalry again. U-M was actually favored before last season's 62-39 loss in Columbus, but the Buckeyes dominated from the start. Ryan Day takes over for Meyer with plenty of talent, but there's no Dwayne Haskins under center for him … and, more importantly, Day's no Urban Meyer. This is the must-win game on the schedule for Jim Harbaugh in his fifth year in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes will continue to thrive, but U-M has the means to compete with them on a yearly basis and should be favored again this year. 2. OCT. 19 AT PENN STATE Winning at Penn State at night (and we're betting heavily on a sun- down showdown in Happy Valley) is no easy task. This is one of college football's toughest environments for road teams, and while the Nittany Lions lost a lot of talent from last year's team, they've recruited very well under head coach James Franklin. PSU will be frothing at the mouth after losing 42-7 in Ann Arbor last year. They responded to a similar beating at Michigan in 2016 with a blowout win of their own the following season. Losing projected starting quarterback Tommy Stevens (transfer) was a blow, however, and the Nittany Lions will also have to find a running back to replace Miles Sand- ers. They're still projected by most as a preseason top-20 squad, and they love redshirt sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford's potential in State College. 3. SEPT. 21 AT WISCONSIN This is the Big Ten opener for the Wolverines, and it's a big one. A Sept. 7 game with Army could be tricky — the Black Knights appear in several preseason top-25 polls and return many players from last year's 11-2 squad. The Badgers are next — though U-M will benefit from a bye week — and tough at home. They'll also test Michigan's revamped defensive line. U-M last won at Camp Randall Stadium in 2001, and the Wolverines needed some friendly bounces to win that one in a game in which they were outplayed. U-M has yet to make it to a Big Ten Championship Game in its eight-year existence, and it would be an uphill battle to end that streak with a conference-opening loss. TOP FIVE GAMES Michigan and Penn State have traded blowouts in the last three years, with U-M prevailing 49-10 in 2016 and 42-7 in 2018, and PSU winning 42-13 in 2017. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 5. OCT. 26 VS. NOTRE DAME Michigan was so excited to get the Fighting Irish back on the schedule that the decision makers didn't really think this one through. The Wolverines will be in the middle of a Big Ten title race and coming off a trip to Happy Valley before suiting up for Notre Dame a week later. The Irish return a very good quarterback in Ian Book and should be strong on both lines. U-M will play the revenge angle after losing in South Bend during last year's opener, 24-17. 4. NOV. 16 VS. MICHIGAN STATE Many will wonder why the Spartans aren't higher on this list, and that's fair. But take the emotion out of it, and they'll realize that this is a solid but not great MSU team the Wolverines should beat, especially at home. A win over MSU in Ann Arbor is something U-M hasn't accomplished since 2012. The Spartans should have a very good defense once again, but their offense has plenty to prove. Veteran quarterback Brian Lewerke is better than he played last year — it was clear he was injured in his game against U-M — and he won in Ann Arbor two years ago. MSU will come into the mid-November showdown overmatched, but the Spartans will always play with confidence against Michigan under head coach Mark Dantonio. 2019 SEASON PREVIEW