The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1386887
14 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN FOOTBALL JOHN BORTON, Editor NCAA Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 8-4 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Indiana Big Ten Team On The Decline: Michigan State Offensive Breakout Player: OL Zak Zinter Defensive Breakout Player: S Daxton Hill Michigan MVP: QB Cade McNamara CHRIS BALAS, TheWolverine.com Editor NCAA Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 7-5 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Washington Big Ten Team On The Rise: Rutgers Big Ten Team On The Decline: Michigan State Offensive Breakout Player: OL Zak Zinter Defensive Breakout Player: S Daxton Hill Michigan MVP: DE Aidan Hutchinson AUSTIN FOX, Staff Writer NCAA Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 7-5 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Penn State Big Ten Team On The Decline: Indiana Offensive Breakout Player: QB Cade McNamara Defensive Breakout Player: CB DJ Turner Michigan MVP: RB Hassan Haskins CLAYTON SAYFIE, Staff Writer NCAA Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Iowa Michigan Regular-Season Record: 8-4 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Penn State Big Ten Team On The Decline: Northwestern Offensive Breakout Player: OL Zak Zinter Defensive Breakout Player: DL Taylor Upshaw Michigan MVP: S Daxton Hill DREW HALLETT, Columnist NCAA Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 7-5 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Washington Big Ten Team On The Rise: Penn State Big Ten Team On The Decline: Northwestern Offensive Breakout Player: OL Zak Zinter Defensive Breakout Player: LB Nikhai Hill-Green Michigan MVP: DE Aidan Hutchinson DOUG KARSCH, Sports radio host on 97.1 The Ticket, U-M radio broadcast sideline reporter and regular contributor to TheWolverine.com NCAA Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 5-7 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Rutgers Big Ten Team On The Decline: Penn State Offensive Breakout Player: OL Zak Zinter Defensive Breakout Player: DT Chris Hinton Michigan MVP: DE Aidan Hutchinson Staff Predictions Despite still being a freshman in eligibility, due to last year's free COVID year, guard Zak Zinter was a near-unanimous choice for the offensive breakout player of the year. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL