The Wolverine

2021 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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144 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE BEST AND THE WORST Best Win: Minnesota Heading into the 2020 season, Michigan was 9-14 against top-25 opponents under Jim Harbaugh, and 1-7 versus ranked foes on the road. The Wolverines had a chance to check both boxes in the season opener at No. 21 Minnesota Oct. 24, and did so in impressive fashion during the 49-24 win. The Wolverines rushed for a whopping 256 yards on 31 at- tempts for an average of 8.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore quarterback Joe Milton, making his first start, com- pleted 15 of his 22 pass attempts for 225 yards and one touch- down, and rushed for another score. The defense did allow 129 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but they were tough yards, with the Gophers gaining only 3.1 per carry. Quarterback Tanner Morgan was sacked five times — twice by senior defensive end Kwity Paye — and com- pleted 18 of 31 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown with one interception. All was right for Michigan after week one. Worst Loss: Michigan State Michigan finally took control of its rivalry with Michigan State, winning two straight in the series in 2018 (21-7) and 2019 (44-10). With another home game in 2020 against the Spartans, who were in their first year under head coach Mel Tucker and coming off a season-opening loss to Rutgers, many believed the Wolverines, who had just beaten Minnesota, would have a great chance to win their third straight over its in-state rival Oct. 31. But nothing went according to plan for Michigan on Halloween. A MSU offense that notched seven turnovers the week prior picked Michigan's secondary apart, with quarterback Rocky Lombardi com - pleting 17 of his 32 pass attempts for 323 yards — including five passes that went for 30 yards or more — and three touchdowns in the 27-24 win. Meanwhile, the Wolverines' offense was out of sync and inconsis - tent, going 7 of 17 on third downs and gaining only 5.3 yards per play. A late touchdown with 37 seconds to go made the final score look closer than it was at the end against a Spartan club that finished last in the Big Ten East at 2-5. Michigan's win over Minnesota, highlighted by two touchdowns from quarterback Joe Milton, marked the fourth victory in six season openers under Jim Harbaugh. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 2020 GAME-BY-GAME STARTING LINEUPS OFFENSE Opponent WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR WR/TE/RB QB TB Minnesota Bell Hayes Filiaga Vastardis Stueber Mayfield All Sainristil Corum Milton Charbonnet Michigan State Bell Hayes Filiaga Vastardis Stueber Mayfield Mason Sainristil G. Jackson Milton Charbonnet Indiana Bell Barnhart Filiaga Vastardis Zinter Stueber Eubanks Johnson G. Jackson Milton Evans Wisconsin Bell Barnhart Filiaga Vastardis Zinter Stueber Eubanks Johnson All Milton Charbonnet Rutgers Bell Barnhart Filiaga Carpenter Zinter Stueber Eubanks Sainristil G. Jackson Milton Haskins Penn State Bell Barnhart Filiaga Carpenter Zinter Stueber Eubanks Johnson Henning McNamara Haskins DEFENSE Opponent DE DT NT DE WLB MLB Viper CB SS FS CB Minnesota Paye Hinton Kemp Hutchinson Ross McGrone Barrett Gray Hawkins Hill Green Michigan State Paye Hinton Kemp Hutchinson Ross McGrone Barrett Gray Hawkins Hill Green Indiana Paye VanSumeren* Jeter Hutchinson Ross McGrone Barrett Gray Hawkins Hill Green Wisconsin Kemp Hinton Jeter Upshaw Ross McGrone Barrett Gray Hawkins Hill Green Rutgers Kemp Hinton Jeter Upshaw Ross McGrone Barrett Gray Hawkins Hill Green Penn State Paye VanSumeren* Jeter Kemp Ross Shibley Barrett Gray Hawkins Hill Green * Started in a 3-4

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