15
WINS
82
With one of the
Big Ten’s t op
offensive lines
returning largely
intact, Michigan’s
ground game has
the potential to
be a strength. But
the depth chart at
running back is still
largely a mystery
after the departure
of Karan Higdon,
who ran for a team-
best 1,178. Beyond
senior Tru Wilson
and sophomore
Christian Turner,
the Wolverines will
turn to fullback Ben
VanSumeren and
former linebacker
Hassan Haskins.
The most intriguing
option is true
freshman Zach
Charbonnet, who
missed spring ball
with a knee injury
but should be
healthy come fall.
The highest-rated
recruit Michigan
has signed during
the Harbaugh era,
Charbonnet could
make an instant
impact.X-FACTOR
2019
SCHEDULE
THE BIG STORY This year looks
like Jim Harbaugh’s best
chance yet to win the Big Ten
East. As usual, though, the path
goes through Ohio State. Michigan
has lost to the Buckeyes in each
year of Harbaugh’s four-year
tenure. Last season the Wolverines
rolled into Thanksgiving weekend
at 10–1 then lost to the Buckeyes
62–39. The difference this year?
With Shea Patterson returning
under center, Harbaugh will
have the advantage at QB.CAN’T MISS New coordinator
Josh Gattis’s spread offense
should suit Patterson well, as it
resembles the one he ran at Ole
Miss before he transferred to
Michigan. In his first season
Patterson threw for 2,600 yards
and 22 TDs, with little familiarity
with Harbaugh’s pro-style system.
Gattis’s RPO offense will better
suit the QB’s ability to connect
with playmakers like junior
wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones.KEY QUESTION Last season,
the D was dominant before
Thanksgiving, a mess after:
The Wolverines followed up the
Ohio State game by giving
up 41 points to Florida in the
Peach Bowl. The pressure is
on junior Kwity Paye to lead
the way to opposing QBs;
given time, they could
carve up the Wolverines’
inexperienced secondary.KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 31
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
SEPT. 7
ARMY
SEPT. 21
@ WISCONSIN (19)
SEPT. 28
RUTGERS
OCT. 5
IOWA (18)
OCT. 12
@ ILLINOIS
OCT. 19
@ PENN STATE (16)
OCT. 26
NOTRE DAME (7)
NOV. 2
@ MARYLAND
NOV. 16
MICHIGAN STATE (21)
NOV. 23
@ INDIANA
NOV. 30
OHIO STATE (6)
THE RUNDOWN
3
6
9
12
10
–^3
10
–^3
8 –
5
10
–^3
10
–^2
Losses to Ohio State and
Florida in their final two
games spoiled a promising
2018 season. The program
has made strides under
Harbaugh, but at Michigan
it begins and ends with
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* beating the Buckeyes.
*SI PROJECTION5 -YEAR TREND
8.5
After a rough
schedule last year, the
Wolverines’ toughest opponents—
Ohio State, Notre Dame, Iowa
and Michigan State—all come to
Ann Arbor.OVER OR UNDER
FRO
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M/S
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