After suffering through a decade of Ohio State’s dominance on the football field, the 2020’s have been a Michigan fan’s dream. Three Big Ten titles and a national championship have a way of resetting your perspective. Of course, a bevy of NCAA violations that occurred under former head coach Jim Harbaugh cloud those trophies to all — except Michigan fans, of course. Harbaugh fled to the NFL in San Diego before any more sanctions could be applied to His Khakiness.
Sherrone Moore took over for Harbaugh
last season after serving as interim Michigan head coach during His Khakiness’ suspensions during Michigan’s national championship season. (And yes, that’s suspensions, plural.) And not coincidentally, Moore will be suspended for Michigan’s game at Nebraska for his part of the Connor Stallions’ sign-stealing/illegal scouting scandal. Moore will also sit out the Central Michigan game.
That might have a small bearing on the quarterback race, where Fresno transfer Mikey Keene (5’11” 200 lbs.) and five-star true freshman Bryce Underwood (6’4” 208 lbs.) are likely to succeed junior Davis Warren (6’2” 195 lbs.). Warren completed 64% of his passes in seven starts last season, completing 64% of his passes for 1,199 yards and seven touchdowns, but with nine interceptions. Keene completed over 70% of his passes last season for 2,891 yards and 18 touchdowns with 11 interceptions at Fresno State. Underwood is almost certain to start at some point this season; the main question is whether it’s to open the season or later on. I suspect it’s unlikely that an interim coach will make the choice of installing Underwood as the starter, so if a healthy Keene starts against Oklahoma in week two, expect Keene to hold the job into October.
Michigan’s running back depth chart is a rebuild as well. Senior Justice Haynes (5’11” 205 lbs.) transferred from Alabama where he rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry last season. Sophomore Jordan Marshall (5’11” 210 lbs.) was mostly limited to kickoff returns until Michigan’s top two backs declared for the NFL in December. Against Alabama, Marshall rushed for 100 yards, breaking 12 tackles in the game and earning ReliaQuest Bowl MVP honors. Also on the depth chart are transfers John Volker (6’0” 215 lbs.), an honorable mention All-Ivy honoree at Princeton, and CJ Hester (5’11” 190 lbs.) from UMass.
The receiving corps gets a boost from Indiana transfer Donoven McCulley (6’5” 200 lbs.), an honorable-mention All-Big Ten honoree with Indiana in 2023 where he caught 48 passes for 644 yards and six touchdowns, and UMass transfer Anthony Simpson (5’11” 180 lbs.), who caught 57 passes for 793 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. Junior Fredrick Moore (6’1” 181 lbs.) caught 11 passes for 128 yards last season for the Wolverines while junior Samaj Morgan (5’11” 174 lbs.) caught 27 passes for 139. The tight end room returns intact with senior Max Bredeson (6’2” 240 lbs.), an NFL prospect as a blocker and junior Marlin Klein (6’6” 255 lbs.), who caught 13 passes for 108 yards. Better talent...and a better passer at quarterback should spark Michigan’s passing attack.
Three starters return on Michigan’s offensive line, which has been pretty strong the last few seasons: senior left guard Giovanni El-Hadi (6’5” 310 lbs.), senior center Greg Crippen (6’4” 309 lbs.) and sophomore left tackle Evan Link (6’6” 328 lbs). Transfer right guard Lawrence Hattar (6’5” 335 lbs.) was a division 2 All-American at national champion Ferris State last season. Just don’t see much, if any, slipping up front with the Michigan offensive line.
It’s a bit of a rebuilding year with Michigan’s defensive line after losing three starters in the NFL draft. Senior defensive end Derrick Moore (6’3” 256 lbs.) had 23 tackles last season and has 11 career sacks. Senior nose tackle Damon Payne (6’4” 303 lbs.) was a five-star recruit who had 30 tackles in his career at Alabama before transferring to Michigan this off-season.
Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann (6’2” 235 lbs.) led Michigan with 89 tackles (five for a loss) last season at weakside linebacker. Senior Jaishawn Barnam (6’3” 248 lbs.) was second with 66 tackles after transferring from Maryland, where he was a two year starter and a freshman All-American. This should be one of the Big Ten’s best linebacking corps.
A solid secondary returns with a lot of experience. Ju’0nior Zeke Berry (5’11’ 196 lbs.) shifts to corner from nickel, where he led the Wolverines with nine pass breakups and two interceptions. Sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill was second with eight pass breakups. Senior safety Rod Moore (6’0” 198 lbs.) missed 2024 with an ACL injury, but previously was a two-year starter with 141 tackles and six interceptions in his career. Arkansas transfer TJ Metcalf (6’1” 200 lbs.) had 57 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions last season.
If Nebraska and Michigan take care of business the first couple of weeks, you can’t help but wonder if ESPN might be looking to bring College Gameday to Lincoln for this matchup. The only other marquee matchup would be Florida at Miami-Florida, though Indiana/Illinois could be a sneaky pick as well. This has a chance to be a statement game for Matt Rhule’s team, airing in the CBS late afternoon premier timeslot. (Great for fans, who can easily tailgate both BEFORE and AFTER The game, especially if they have a TV at their tailgate.)
Is Nebraska ready for the spotlight in 2025?
More from cornnation.com:
- Nebraska Football: Mike Riley’s Breakout Group Comments At Big Ten Media Days
- The 2007 Nebraska Football Season: Booing, Big Holes, and Broken Hopes
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- Nebraska Football: Mike Riley’s Remarks At Big Ten Media Days
- Big Red Cobcast: Is it Time to Cheat?
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- Wisconsin Badgers 2017 Football Preview
