The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473191
20 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN FOOTBALL JOHN BORTON, Editor National Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 11-1 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team on the Rise: Nebraska Big Ten Team on the Decline: Indiana Offensive Breakout Player: RB Donovan Edwards Defensive Breakout Player: DE Mike Morris Michigan MVP: QB Cade McNamara CHRIS BALAS, TheWolverine.com Editor National Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 10-2 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team on the Rise: Nebraska Big Ten Team on the Decline: Northwestern Offensive Breakout Player: RB Donovan Edwards Defensive Breakout Player: LB Junior Colson Michigan MVP: RB Blake Corum ANTHONY BROOME, Staff Writer National Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 11-1 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team on the Rise: Purdue Big Ten Team on the Decline: Indiana Offensive Breakout Player: OT Trente Jones Defensive Breakout Player: LB Junior Colson Michigan MVP: WR Ronnie Bell CLAYTON SAYFIE, Staff Writer National Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Michigan, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Iowa Michigan Regular-Season Record: 11-1 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team on the Rise: Minnesota Big Ten Team on the Decline: Indiana Offensive Breakout Player: WR Andrel Anthony Defensive Breakout Player: DE Mike Morris Michigan MVP: RB Blake Corum DREW HALLETT, Columnist National Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Utah Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Minnesota Michigan Regular-Season Record: 10-2 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team on the Rise: Nebraska Big Ten Team on the Decline: Iowa Offensive Breakout Player: TE Erick All Defensive Breakout Player: DE Mike Morris Michigan MVP: RB Blake Corum DOUG SKENE, Former U-M All-Big Ten offensive lineman and contributor to TheWolverine.com National Champion: Alabama CFP Teams: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin Michigan Regular-Season Record: 10-2 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Ohio State Big Ten Team on the Rise: Wisconsin Big Ten Team on the Decline: Penn State Offensive Breakout Player: RB Donovan Edwards Defensive Breakout Player: LB Junior Colson Michigan MVP: QB Cade McNamara 2022 Staff Predictions "Each day, whether I'm faced with a professional task or a personal task, those thoughts race through my mind. Sometimes I need to dig deeper than others, but very seldom do I take on any kind of endeavor without realizing the importance of giving my best consistently and committing myself to my task of intentionally working to get better. I don't want to get worse." Neither did Carr's crew in 1997. They dominated at Penn State on Judgment Day, 34-8. They rode Woodson's 78-yard punt re- turn touchdown and their relentless defense past Ohio State. In the end, they did what no Michigan team had accomplished in 50 years, and heard the words still seared onto their con- sciousness. "Singing 'The Victors' after the game, and when Lloyd said, 'You guys just won the na- tional championship!' I'll never forget that, as long as I live," Jansen assured. "When Lloyd said that, it's one of those pinch-me moments. It's like, I can't believe I'm living this dream. I can't believe this is my life." One uncomfortable pinch arrived when the coaches voted Nebraska to the No. 1 spot, making it a split title between the schools. That's made for some hard-edged arguments over who fielded the better team. "Both Nebraska and Michigan, we all would have loved to be able to hash it out on the field," Rene said. "I have no doubt, and I've never had a doubt, that we would win. But I'm sure [Nebraska's then-quarterback and current head coach] Scott Frost feels the same way. "We'll never have the opportunity to find out, but not only did I think about it, not only do I think about it, it's probably to an unhealthy level. I think we'll all be in the nursing home with walkers, thinking, if we could take 'em on now, we would." "Trust me," Jansen added. "If that sce- nario happens, and we're in the same nurs- ing home, I will still have my pads and my helmet. We will tee it up. Jay Feely will kick the ball off. "And we will kick their ass, like we would have done in '97 and any year since then. I don't care if I'm 85 years old, 90 years old. We will kick their ass." — John Borton Michigan presented its Big Ten Championship rings to the 2021 team on June 17 at Michigan Stadium with recruits on hand for the festivities. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN FOOTBALL/TWITTER