Breaking down Blake Corum’s bold prediction for Michigan football

During the Wolverines’ victory over Nebraska, members of the Michigan football team came onto the court to participate in the T-shirt toss with the fans. Then, Michigan rising senior running back Blake Corum was given some time to speak, and boy, did he use it to capture the fans’ attention.

This fall, Corum’s bold prediction for the Wolverines is to win a National Championship. It’s fun to hear, and it gets the fans riled up, but is it realistic? Let’s break down Corum’s prediction for the 2023 Wolverines.

Wolverines defense is in good shape

No team in the Big Ten returns more production from 2022 than the Michigan Wolverines. On defense, Will Johnson and Rod Moore will lead Michigan football.

A season ago, the Wolverines finished in the top-7 in total offense, scoring offense, total defense, and scoring defense. Michigan football returns much of its defensive talent and brings in some massive transfer additions, such as Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann. Additionally, the Wolverines have a plethora of in-house talent that they will use this fall.

On top of everything else we’ve seen from Michigan football over the past two seasons, the Wolverines have made it clear that no one develops in-house talent like Jim Harbaugh and his staff. With a mix of new and old faces this fall, the Wolverine defense is in great shape to again be one of the best units in the country. A season ago, only one team broke the 28-point mark: TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

Michigan’s defense held No. 10 Penn State to 17, No. 2 Ohio State to 23, and Michigan State to 7 a season ago. Additionally, unlike 2021-22, Michigan’s defensive coordinator will be staying in Ann Arbor, and Chris Partridge is a valuable addition to the defensive staff.

Michigan football will have an elite offense in 2023

In 2022, the Michigan football offense ranked No. 6 in total offense (yards gained) and in scoring offense (points scored) en route to its second-straight Big Ten title under Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines’ offense will likely be better this fall than it was a year ago.

Upfront, Michigan football boasts an elite offensive line with an incredible mix of in-house talent, returners from last year’s line, and three fantastic transfer additions from the portal.

Out wide, Michigan football returns two of its top three receivers from a season ago, on top of returning rising sophomore Colston Loveland and a four-star tight end transfer, AJ Barner, that brings Big Ten experience from Indiana.

Behind this talented offensive line and receiver corps is the best running back duo in the Big Ten: Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. If you thought these two were scary good in 2022, just wait for them to take the field this September. Corum, a 2022 Heisman Trophy contender, announced last month that he would return to Michigan’s sideline in 2023 despite rumors that he was declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Edwards, who is as good of a runner and a more dangerous receiving threat, will also be on the sideline — he is a rising junior.

Michigan football will also have a special player under center: rising junior JJ McCarthy, who is more talented than any Wolverine QB in decades. McCarthy had a solid season in 2022, but in year two as a starter, much bigger things are expected from him — right now, he is listed in the top-15 Heisman odds as we enter the season.

Can Blake Corum’s prediction come true

Over the last two seasons, Michigan football has come as close as nearly anyone has to win it all. That said, despite its two College Football Playoff appearances, the Wolverines are 0-2 in CFP games and 1-6 in bowl games under Jim Harbaugh.

This fall, Michigan football has its best shot at a National title as it has since Jim Harbaugh took over in late 2014. The Wolverines are stacked on both sides of the football; its coaching staff is intact from a year ago, and the core of Michigan’s leadership remains in place on offense and defense. Additionally, the Wolverines are riding all kinds of momentum into this season after winning back-to-back conference titles in 2021 and 2022. Michigan will also host Ohio State to end the year, which plays in the Wolverines’ favor.

If there’s a time for Michigan football to win a National Championship, it is this fall — only time will tell if Blake Corum’s prediction will come true — though things are looking up for the Michigan Wolverines.

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