The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524451
AUGUST 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 31 2023-24 YEAR IN REVIEW MOST IMPROVED TEAMS OF THE YEAR MALE SPORT MOST IMPROVED TEAM OF THE YEAR FOOTBALL Michigan's 2022 season was over with a 51-45 loss to Texas Christian in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl, but quarterback J.J. McCarthy remained on the field, watching as purple confetti fell and the Horned Frogs celebrated. Minutes later, McCarthy made a brief stop at his postgame press conference, leaving after answering just one question, declaring that, "We'll be back, and I promise that." Head coach Jim Harbaugh later said that McCarthy didn't just promise the Wolverines would return to that spot, but they'd seize the moment and come away victorious. "There's resolution, but resolution without repetition is meaningless," Harbaugh said. Michigan missed an opportunity against TCU, but that served as fuel throughout the following offseason and the fall of 2023. The Wolverines proceeded to once again domi- nate the Big Ten, winning their third straight conference crown, and were ready for the challenge of taking on SEC champion Alabama in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines beat the Crimson Tide 27-20 in overtime and advanced to the national championship game in Houston, where they suffocated Washington 34-13 to reach the top of the mountain for the 12th time in school history and first time since 1997. FEMALE SPORT MOST IMPROVED TEAM OF THE YEAR SOFTBALL Michigan ended the 2023 season — its first under head coach Bon- nie Tholl, a longtime assistant for 29 years — tied for ninth in the Big Ten, marking the worst finish in program history. It wasn't quite the start Tholl and Co. were looking for following the retirement of the legendary Carol Hutchins, who tallied an NCAA-re- cord 1,707 victories during her ca- reer (1982 at Ferris State, 1985-2022 at U-M). But the Wolverines bounced back, even if it took some time, in 2024. Michigan opened with a 10-9 record over its first four weekends, before turning around its fortunes by ending the year 33-9 over its final 42 outings. The Wolverines finished second in the Big Ten regular season, before winning their 11th Big Ten Tourna- ment title by taking down Maryland (10-0), Wisconsin (6-4) and Indiana (3-1) in Iowa City. After not making the NCAA Tournament in 2023, the Maize and Blue wound up second in the Stillwater Regional after losing to Oklahoma State, which advanced to the super regionals. The Wolverines made 27 straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1995-2022, and they hope the 2024 bid begins another long streak. U-M's football team hoisted its third consecutive Big Ten championship trophy after defeating Iowa 26-0 on Dec. 2. Pictured (l-r) are Kenneth Grant, Mike Sainristil, Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER The Michigan softball team bounced back from ninth place in 2023 to finish second in the 2024 Big Ten regular season and win the 11th Big Ten Tournament title in program history. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS