The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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44 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 1. NOV. 28 AT OHIO STATE "We've got to beat Ohio State." Head coach Jim Harbaugh's own words in May indicate what many already knew — he understands the importance of the rivalry, and he knows the Wolverines haven't held up their end of the bargain. The rivalry has become even more one-sided than it was in the late 1980s and early '90s, when U-M owned OSU head coach John Cooper with 10 wins and a tie in 13 games. The Wolverines are 1-15 against the Buckeyes since 2004, the lone victory coming against interim coach Luke Fickell in 2011. U-M has been close a number of times, including twice in the Harbaugh era, but the Wolverines haven't gotten over the hump. It's well past time they played their best game against their rival after getting blown out each of the last two years. 2. OCT. 3 VS. PENN STATE Michigan opens the conference season with a pair of huge home games against teams that beat the Wolverines at their own stadiums a year ago. Win both and there's a solid chance the Wolverines will be playing Ohio State in Columbus for a Big Ten East Division title. PSU is second on the slate, after Wisconsin, and the Wolverines and Nittany Li- ons have been trading home wins for the last four years. PSU hasn't come close to beating a Jim Harbaugh team in Ann Arbor. Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford returns along with a very good defense, but U-M needs to win this East Division battle at home. 3. SEPT. 26 VS. WISCONSIN This is the Big Ten opener for the Wolverines for the second straight year, and they'll look to atone for last year's 35-14 beating in Madison. U-M was out of the game in the first half due to an anemic offensive perfor- mance and big plays allowed on defense — the Badgers lose running back Jona- than Taylor, but they'll find a capable back behind a behemoth line. They always do. They now have a balanced offense, however, led by quarterback Jack Coan, and their defense is always stingy. This will be a huge test for both of Michigan's lines. 4. OCT. 17 AT MINNESOTA P.J. Fleck's team is firmly on the map after winning 11 games, including a home victory over Penn State and an eye- opening triumph over Auburn in the Outback Bowl. Quarterback Tanner Morgan is one of the Big Ten's best, and the Golden Gophers are a team on the rise, returning nine starters on offense. They had four drafted from a defense that finished 10th nationally in yards allowed and ninth in pass defense, however, and lose seven of their top eight tacklers and nine of the top 12. TCF Bank Stadium has suddenly become a tough place to play and this will be a tough game for the Wolverines. 5. SEPT. 5 AT WASHINGTON Michigan is scheduled to open the season out West against a Huskies team featuring a first-year head coach and a new quarterback after Jacob Eason departed for the NFL. Washing- ton does return a nasty defense, however — perhaps the best unit in the PAC-12 — and is always tough at home. U-M has won once on the road on the West Coast in the last 40 years, and that was a miraculous comeback at UCLA in 1989. UCLA, Oregon, Washington and even Utah in the Mountain Time Zone have all resulted in early season losses. U-M will have its work cut out to start the season with a big road win. Most Anticipated Games The Wolverines have been blown out by the Buckeyes the last two years (56-27 in 2019, above, and 62-39 in 2018), and have not beaten their rival since 2011. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Michigan's 23-man group of incoming freshmen was ranked as Rivals.com's No. 11 class nationally, another outstanding collection of talent. Several of the young Wol- verines will have an opportunity to play early, including a number on offense. Here are the five rookies most likely to see the field in 2020: 1. RUNNING BACK BLAKE CORUM The running back position is loaded with talent from sopho- more Zach Charbonnet to fifth-year senior Chris Evans, but the 5-8, 193-pound Corum, Maryland's Gatorade Player of the Year, impressed as an early enrollee. He's small but explosive with huge legs, ran for 1,266 yards last year and 1,415 the year prior, and is expected to make an instant impact. 2. Wide Receiver A.J. Henning The Wolverines are also loaded at wide re- ceiver, but a freshman always seems to crack the rotation. Henning, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois, is this year's candidate. Rivals' No. 111 overall prospect nationally is simply electric. He caught 52 passes for 835 yards with 13 touchdowns, and added 648 rushing on 121 carries with another 15 scores last fall. He could also return punts and kicks. 3. Cornerback Andre Seldon Many have doubted Seldon because of his 5-8, 154-pound frame, but the three-year prep starter rose from No. 232 in Rivals' na- tional rankings to No. 140 after a dominant week at the Under Armour All-Star Game. He is sticky and plays much bigger than he is in coverage due to his incredible instincts and athleticism. He notched six picks and returned four punts for scores in his senior year. Michigan signed him to play nickel, defensive coordinator Don Brown said, where physical challenge is the most important piece. The coaches believe he has an opportunity to impact early in that role. 4. Wide Receiver Roman Wilson The 6-0 Hawaiian was only listed as Rivals' No. 75 wide receiver nationally and a three-star prospect, but Michigan coaches have said he'd have been rated higher had he played in the continental United States. The speedster hauled in 61 receptions for 1,025 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior in 2019, and will also be a candidate to return kicks and punts. 5. Safety Jordan Morant The consensus four-star prospect is thick at 5-11, 212 pounds, and he'll likely play at least on special teams. U-M needs some depth at safety, as well, so he'll get a look there. He was once considered the top safety in his class before suffering a broken foot early in his senior year, holding offers from Alabama and other elites, before committing to U-M. 2020 SEASON PREVIEW Top Five Freshman Candidates To Play PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM