Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503568
A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 9 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Michigan picked an unfortu- nate time to play its worst game in a couple of years, but aside from that uncharacteristically sloppy loss to TCU in the Col- lege Football Playoff semifinals last December, everything has been coming up roses for Jim Harbaugh and company lately. The Wolverines have won back-to-back Big Ten champi- onships for the first time since 2003-04 and look to be well positioned to claim another crown. They've got two legiti- mate Heisman Trophy contend- ers returning to the offense, and the lines on both sides of the ball appear to be as formidable as ever. As a result, they've turned up in the top five of just about ev- ery preseason poll, and they've got a schedule that should en- sure they stay there until at least No- vember. There have been a few problems, of course, but they've mostly been of the off-the-field variety: Harbaugh's repeated flirtations with the NFL, an NCAA investigation of seemingly mi- nor recruiting infractions, the dismissal in January of co-offensive coordina- tor Matt Weiss over alleged computer crimes, and some grumbling among the program's supporters that it hasn't been sufficiently aggressive in the name, im- age and likeness arena. None of that has done anything to damage Michigan's claim as the pre- eminent team in the Big Ten heading into the 2023 season. "Compare us to perfect, and we're going to come up short in major areas," Harbaugh said recently. "Com- pare us to any other program, and I think you're going to see that it doesn't get any better." It does get slightly better; the Wolverines, after all, have yet to win a playoff game after mak- ing the four-team field the past two seasons. But they've beaten archrival Ohio State decisively twice in a row, and they've got the manpower to do so again. It begins with the ground game. Running backs Blake Co- rum and Donovan Edwards com- bined for 2,454 yards last season, running behind an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award for the second year in a row. In addition, quarterback J.J. McCarthy gives the Wolver- ines a downfield passing threat that they lacked earlier in Har- baugh's tenure. McCarthy threw for 2,719 yards last year, with 22 touch- downs and 5 interceptions. The defense returns seven starters and should be fierce at all three levels. Linebacker Junior Colson leads the way after making 101 tackles a year ago. The Wolverines must replace a couple of reliable specialists, but they appear to have everything they need in all three phases of the game for another playoff run. With one of this year's semifinals set for Pasadena, everything could still be coming up roses for Harbaugh and company come Jan. 1. — Matt Herb N O V. 1 1 | N O O N | F O X | B E A V E R S T A D I U M | U N I V E R S I T Y P A R K Blake Corum rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns last season before suffering a knee injury that forced him to miss the College Football Playoff. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF GAME 10 MICHIGAN 2023 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2022 Result Sept. 2 East Carolina — Sept. 9 UNLV — Sept. 16 Bowling Green — Sept. 23 Rutgers W, 52-17 Sept. 30 at Nebraska W, 34-3 Oct. 7 at Minnesota — Oct. 14 Indiana W, 31-10 Oct. 21 at Michigan State W, 29-7 Nov. 4 Purdue W, 43-22 Nov. 11 at Penn State W, 41-17 Nov. 18 at Maryland W, 34-27 Nov. 25 Ohio State W, 45-23 WHAT COULD GO RIGHT You name it. Michigan is strong enough both in the trenches and at the skill posi- tions to replicate, if not improve upon, its results of the past two seasons. WHAT COULD GO WRONG A back-loaded Big Ten schedule that features visits to Penn State and Maryland ahead of the traditional season-capper against Ohio State could trip up the Wolver- ines in November. QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 16-10 Last Meeting: Michigan rushed for 418 yards and routed visiting Penn State 41-17 on Oct. 15, 2022 Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (74-25 in eight seasons at Michigan; career collegiate coaching record: 132-52) 2022 Record: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 de- fense, 0 specialists) RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Blake Corum (1,463 yards, 18 TD) Passing: QB J.J. McCarthy (2,719 yards, 22 TD) Receiving: WR Cornelius Johnson (499 yards, 6 TD) Tackles: MLB Junior Colson (101) Sacks: OLB Michael Barrett, DE Jaylen Har- rell (3.5) Interceptions: S Rod Moore (4)