The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 119 5. Penn State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) Every year, Penn State comes into the season with one of the most talent-rich rosters in the conference but fails to bust through the ceiling and find its way to India- napolis. Its hopes this year rely on the steps Drew Allar takes forward at quarterback during his junior season, made complicated by top wideout Keandre Lambert-Smith's transfer to Auburn. Road games at West Virginia, USC and Wisconsin could determine the trajectory of this year's Nittany Lions under James Franklin. PSU avoids facing Michigan but will play home games against Ohio State and Washington. Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton make for one of the best running back duos in the country, but it is tough to imagine a playoff run without better play under center. 6. Washington (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) The Huskies were hit by the coaching carousel in a major way when Kalen DeBoer left to replace Nick Saban at Alabama after the national championship game loss to Michigan. Former Harbaugh assistant and Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch stepped in to replace him and is in charge of leading a team that lost most of its offensive production to the 2024 NFL Draft. Former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers steps into the QB1 role, and the schedule sets up for a potentially hot start. Michigan heads to Seattle on Oct. 5, which kicks off a stretch of games that includes road trips to Iowa and Indiana, hosting USC, heading to Penn State, hosting UCLA and ending the season at Oregon. The ingredi- ents are in place for an up-and-down year. 7. Iowa (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) The story with Iowa figures to be about the same as it has been. Kirk Ferentz will trot out an elite defense and special teams unit that hopes the offense can be close to average. That has been the recipe for years, and it does not figure to change. Former U-M quarterback Cade McNamara is back for a sixth collegiate season and has a new offensive coordinator in Tim Lester. There is no Big Ten West to bail out the Hawk- eyes' lack of firepower, so expect them to hang out in the middle of the pack moving forward until they prove capable of completing a forward pass. 8. Nebraska (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) The Cornhuskers changed coaches last season to Matt Rhule, but their patented closing woes hurt their chances for a breakout season as a program. Nebraska was 1-5 in one-score games last season and lost its last four games. This season, they could be poised for a breakout with a friendlier schedule and a five-star quarterback signee in Dylan Raiola, who is expected to start. The second half of the schedule is difficult, but Nebraska has a great chance to get bowl-eligible before Halloween, which would be a massive step in the right direction. 9. Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) The Terrapins have proven to be consistent under Mike Locksley, winning seven games in 2021 and eight games each of the last two seasons. Once again, they have a favorable schedule the first half of the year before the second half gets difficult, and it is in those spots that they tend to wilt. Locksley has recruited plenty of talent to the program, but they are lacking a next-level gear that could propel them into a higher tier of Big Ten contention. 10. Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) Switching from the traditional offense to the air raid is as big a culture shock as there has been of late in the Big Ten, but head coach Luke Fickell has a track record of success. It just might take a little more time to modernize the look in Madison. The Badgers' schedule is unforgiving, headlined by a nonconference showdown with Alabama. USC, Penn State, Iowa, Oregon and Nebraska are also on the schedule, and it feels like Wisconsin is still a year away from a potential breakout in the Fickell era. 11. UCLA (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) The Bruins are one of the biggest enigmas in the conference after losing their head coach to a conference opponent as an offensive coordinator. Program alum DeShaun Foster stepped in to lead and made a splash hire at offensive coordinator in Eric Bienemy, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders. The schedule is brutal in Weeks 3-5, with games at LSU and Penn State and a home date with Oregon sandwiched in between. Still, the offense could be good enough to steal a few down the stretch to gain bowl eligibility. 12. Minnesota (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) Head coach PJ Fleck has built a consistent and physical football team over his seven seasons in Minneapolis but has not been able to recapture the magic of the 11-2 season in 2019. This might not be the group that does it, either. Minnesota should be able to move the ball with running back Darius Taylor, but quarterback is a bit of a question. FCS transfer Max Brosmer led the nation in passing yards with 3,464 at New Hampshire last year, but the Big Ten is a different world. The Gophers will need him to shine to avoid being on the bowl bubble. 13. Purdue (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten) Purdue could have one of the sneakier-good offenses in the Big Ten, led by quar- terback Hudson Card and running back Devin Mockobee. Head coach Ryan Walters attacked the portal and has a team that could contend for a bowl spot, but the sched- ule is uniquely brutal this year with nonconference games against Notre Dame and at Oregon State. They will also see Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State from Oct. 19 onward. Walters and his staff will be tested greatly, but the right set of circumstances could have the Boilermakers in the mix for a bowl game. 14. Michigan State (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten) One of the biggest rebuilds in the Big Ten is underway in East Lansing, led by former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith, who guided the Beavers to 25 wins over the last three seasons. The Spartans need a top-to-bottom culture change coming out of the tumultuous Mel Tucker era, and Smith has done his best to amp up recruiting and transfer portal efforts to speed up the overhaul. Sophomore Aidan Chiles, an Oregon State transfer, should be one of the best young quarterbacks in the Big Ten, but MSU is bereft of the talent it needs to get back to its "glory days." This season should be viewed as Year Zero for Smith and his staff. 15. Illinois (5-7, 2-7 Big Ten) Illinois disappointed last season, choking away a bowl berth after winning eight games during the 2022 season. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is expected to take a step for- ward, but head coach Bret Bielema's squad loses too much talent on both lines to bank on a return to bowl eligibility. They will still be a tough out and one of the more physi- cal teams in the league, but they have to cut back on the self-inflicted mistakes to turn their gritty style into victories. 16. Northwestern (5-7, 2-7 Big Ten) The Wildcats were one of the conference's biggest surprises last year under the guiding hand of head coach David Braun, who was put in a terrible spot after the hazing scandal that cost Pat Fitzgerald his job. All they did from there was stay together and win eight games, earning Braun Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. It will be a difficult act to follow, and play- ing home games between a makeshift stadium at the practice facility and at Wrigley Field will be an interesting wrinkle in the Big Ten storylines. 17. Rutgers (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten) Greg Schiano has turned the program from a conference doormat to one of the more irritating teams to play on the schedule. Can they be anything more than that? Defensively, they are an extremely physical and well-rounded group, but the Scarlet Knights lack the offensive firepower to take the next step and will face an uphill battle for a bowl berth. 18. Indiana (3-9, 0-9 Big Ten) One of new head coach Curt Cignetti's first quotes upon his arrival in Bloomington was "I win. Google me," along with a proclamation that his Hoosiers would play for a Big Ten title in 2024. A 52-9 mark at James Madison is impressive, but the climb out of the Big Ten cellar is going to be a lot more difficult to pull off. The former Nick Saban staffer has his work cut out for him. Big Ten Championship Game Prediction: Oregon 34, Ohio State 31 OSU's talented running back TreVeyon Hender- son (32) was bottled up by the Michigan defense last year. He returns for his senior season in a backfield bolstered by the addition of Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN