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Parting thoughts on the 2022 Michigan football team

After Michigan’s 2022 football season came to a close, we have some parting thoughts about the Wolverines’ 13-1 campaign.

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh takes the field with the team at the start of the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Michigan football came into the season with high expectations, and through 13 games, the season was going better than expected. Now, after the Wolverines’ 6-point loss to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, here are my parting thoughts on Michigan’s 2022 season.

Michigan football is a contender

The College Football Playoff (CFP) loss hurts for many reasons, but like last year’s Playoff, Michigan absolutely belonged. The Wolverines made some costly mistakes that ultimately lost them the game against TCU; however, Michigan football had one of the best resumes in the land.

After the Wolverines went 12-2 a year ago, many thought that Michigan football would not win another Big Ten Championship or beat Ohio State again for another decade. In 2022, Michigan needed to change people’s minds, and did just that.

The Wolverines went 12-0 in the regular season, beat Penn State (41-17), Michigan State (29-7) and Ohio State (45-23), and won the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue (43-22).

If nothing else, the Wolverines established themselves as a contender, not a pretender. Michigan is no longer just a “one hit wonder,” and could be gearing up for another run in 2023.

This team was one of the best in school history

Michigan football has a long and prestigious history on the football field. Still, few have come close to the status that the 2022 Wolverines have earned.

For the first time in program history, U-M won 13 games in a single season. On top of that, Michigan beat MSU, PSU, and OSU in the same season for the first time in my lifetime. For the second time in my lifetime, the Wolverines won back-to-back Big Ten Championships — the first time was 2003-04 under Lloyd Carr.

Michigan will likely end the season ranked No. 3 in the polls with a 13-1 record. It was an honor and a privilege being able to watch this year’s team, and going forward I am excited to see if Jim Harbaugh and Co. can build off of this incredible momentum.

Bowl season is Jim Harbaugh’s downfall

I know that I am going to upset the “Bowl Season doesn’t matter” crowd with this one, but what I am saying is valid. Sure, bowls mean less than they used to, but a 1-6 record in bowl games is unacceptable. Since Harbaugh’s massive win over Florida in the Citrus bowl in 2016, the Wolverines are 0-6.

Not only is Michigan 1-6 in bowls under Harbaugh, but this losing streak includes the 0-2 record in College Football Playoff games. In both cases, it was the “same old Wolverines” in a sense. Michigan football just looked mentally out of it, mistake-prone, and unprepared in both Playoff losses.

I love Harbaugh and what he has done at Michigan thus far, but that does not mean he cannot be criticized. What does he do for the month leading up to his team’s post-season games? Whatever it is, it isn’t working. Michigan needs to start winning some bowl game hardware and that needs to start soon for Jim Harbaugh — especially if Michigan football continues to make a run at the CFP.

I will take the Big Ten Championships, but at some point the Wolverines should be aspiring for more. If you’re getting a shot at these trophies, you need to capitalize.

Michigan made too many mistakes in the CFP

A year ago, it felt as if the Wolverines were just out-matched by the eventual National Champion Georgia Bulldogs. Last weekend, though, it seemed as if Michigan football just continued to beat itself.

Now, some people will blame the refs for the Wolverines’ loss; however, the officials did not fumble on the goal-line or throw two pick-6s. Michigan looked sloppy on defense, was mistake-prone on offense, and had too many mental slip ups towards the end of the game.

The TCU game is best summed up by the Wolverines’ final offensive play: an early snap that was eventually lost to the Horned Frogs and sealed the game. The sad reality is that Michigan football is not playing in a National Championship game next week because they beat themselves in every phase of the Fiesta Bowl loss.

Michigan football should be favored in 2023

Despite how that Playoff game went, we need to remember that this Michigan team embarrassed the entire Big Ten conference all season long. One bad game does not make or break a season, though sadly this one came at season’s end.

Still, the Wolverines are in good shape. Between returning starters on next year’s team, returning coaches, transfer portal pickups, and more, the Wolverines still have a bright future. As of right now, I see no reason why Michigan football should not be the early favorite to win the Big Ten and head to the CFP for a third-straight season in 2023.

There are three men that give me hope for the Wolverines’ 2023 campaign going similar to the 2022 season: JJ McCarthy, Donovan Edwards, and Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines need all three to stay as hungry as ever, but this trio could very well win another conference title and beat Ohio State again.

The Buckeyes might not be looking too hot next year, but Penn State football will be a major threat to Michigan’s throne. Both are must-win games, but games that I think Michigan can win. It is way too early to start seriously talking about the 2023 season, but as of right now I expect more of the same from the boys in Blue a year from now.

JJ has been and still is the guy for Michigan football

Throughout the 2022 season, one of the biggest stoylines that Michigan fans have needed to follow was the development of JJ McCarthy. Week 2, McCarthy got his first start and took the job from former QB Cade McNamara.

Michigan football never looked back, and eventually boasted a 13-0 record. Still, the Wolverines’ QB appeared to struggle. In games such as Maryland, Illinois, and others, McCarthy appeared to be off, which was alarming at the time.

Still, in the Ohio State and Purdue games, McCarthy showed that he is the best man for the QB job. While McCarthy made two costly mistakes in the CFP that handed TCU 14 points, he was also the only reason Michigan football was still in the game late into the 4th quarter.

Next year, I expect another massive leap forward for McCarthy — it’s clear that he is the guy right now.

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Now wearing No. 8, Tyler Morris looks to fill the sizable shoes of Ronnie Bell

The Michigan Wolverines have a new No. 8 on their sidelines, and he is looking to make an immediate impact.

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Michigan football Tyler Morris
Nov 5, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Tyler Morris (13) signals for a first dow in front of Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive lineman Mohamed Toure (8) during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

ANN ARBOR, MI — A season ago, 5th-year senior wide receiver Ronnie Bell quickly became the focal point of Michigan’s solid passing attack. Despite tearing his ACL in Week 1 of the 2021 season (during the Wolverines’ 47-14 win over Western Michigan), it was clear that Bell was JJ McCarthy’s favorite pass-catcher from the very beginning. Now, with Ronnie Bell leaving the program for the NFL Draft, Michigan football needs a new face to step up and fill Bell’s sizable shoes: Tyler Morris.

Michigan football is hopeful that Tyler Morris catches his stride in 2023

Even if you have been following Michigan football for quite some time, there is a good chance that you have not heard the name Tyler Morris before. Out of high school, Morris was rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, and ranked as the No. 133 player in the nation, the No. 22 wide receiver in his class, and the No. 4 player in the state of Illinois — he signed with Michigan as a member of the 2022 recruiting class.

Yet, during Morris’s senior year of high school, he tore his ACL, which has largely hindered him throughout his college playing career thus far. Heading into the 2023 season, Morris looks to be back at full strength. A season ago, Tyler Morris donned the No. 13 jersey, which has been frequently worn by fan favorites — such as Eddie McDoom — in the past; however, in 2023, Morris will pay tribute to former Michigan football standout Ronnie Bell and don the No. 8 jersey.

What can Wolverines fans expect from Morris this season?

If Michigan football is lucky, Morris will live up to the jersey number and step into a starting role — Morris knows that there is a lot to learn, but he is up to the challenge.

“I feel like it’s going good. For me just a lot more comfortable,” Morris told the media during the Wolverines’ spring practices. “Last year, freshman year, you’re trying to figure everything out. You don’t know the offense, you don’t really know just how to program works completely. I was still trying to come back from my knee a little bit. So this year, I feel like I’m just more comfortable, used to things, know how it goes. So it’s not too much, trying to figure everything out as much.”

This year’s Michigan football offense is incredibly fast, and with that speed comes a lot of danger for opposing defenses.

“I think just how fast it goes. We’re putting plays in, everything’s moving fast, you got to figure everything out,” Morris said. “There’s different situations that in high school you’re not thinking about that. There’s just — you’re kind of just playing football. So just a lot more thinking and details that go into it now.”

If you want to play for Michigan football as a wide receiver, you’re going to need to know how to block. There is no getting around that fact — the Wolverines simply run the football too often for anyone that touches the field to not get out front and block.

“I have no issue with blocking. That’s just part of the game,” Morris said. “You can’t be a receiver and expect to only go catch to score touchdowns and all that. Especially being at our school, we’ve got great backs. So we’re going to run the ball and you’ve got to be able to block. I just feel like it’s a mindset being physical and not being scared to go hit somebody.”



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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One of Michigan’s newest transfer additions explains why he chose the Wolverines

The Wolverines have a new transfer addition at quarterback, and though he is not going to start, he is excited to be at Michigan.

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University of Michigan transfer portal
© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

ANN ARBOR, MI — The Michigan Wolverines recently inked one of the best recruiting classes in the country. For quite some time — before other schools began adding massive amounts of portal commits — the Wolverines boasted the No. 1 class nationally. Still, Michigan football managed to ink an incredible transfer portal class, including seven total commits — three of which are from fellow Big Ten programs. Jack Tuttle, Michigan’s newest quarterback addition, recently took some time to explain why he decided on the University of Michigan despite knowing that JJ McCarthy will be the team’s starter.

Why did new transfer portal quarterback Jack Tuttle choose the University of Michigan?

When asked about why he chose the University of Michigan, here is what transfer portal quarterback Jack Tuttle had to say (per Yahoo Sports):

“So there were a lot of relationships,” Tuttle said. “Obviously, relationships for me to come here. I knew Coach Harbaugh, Coach Hart before. And that’s what really sparked coming here for me.”

Mike Hart, the all-time leading rusher at the University of Michigan and current running backs coach, was at Indiana before taking the RB coach opening at Michigan. This explains why Tuttle and Hart were familiar, and likely played a decisive role in him choosing Michigan football. For Tuttle and others, transferring schools comes with many challenges, especially when going from a small program like Indiana to one of the biggest in the world.

“I guess just adjusting to — I know every program has a different culture,” Tuttle said. “Adjusting to that, and the new locker room and the people — which obviously has been fantastic. So, AJ (Barner) and I both came from same place (Indiana) so that’s been helpful when we’re rooming together. And so it’s been a pretty good transition for both of us.”

Jack Tuttle is entering his sixth season of college football, and frankly, he wants to win a national title.

“For me, personally, it’s not over till it’s over,” Tuttle said. “That’s kind of something I live by. And my dad and I have always talked about it’s not over till it’s over. And, people (ask), why Michigan? Why come here? What’s your goal here? I have a couple of goals. But the main goal right now, and what I’m focused on is doing everything I can to help this team win a national championship and achieve all its goals.

“So that’s where my work is going to right now. That’s what I’m striving for. And I’m going to help and do whatever I can to make sure we achieve that goal.”

Even though the new Michigan football transfer portal quarterback knows he is not going to start over JJ McCarthy, he is still happy to be a part of the incredible QB room and culture at the University of Michigan.

“I’m gonna come in and compete. And J.J. has been phenomenal,” Tuttle said. “That whole quarterback room has been great — Coach Kirk [Campbell]. And I’m blessed, honestly blessed to come into that situation and be around those guys and beat and have fun. And I’m gonna do whatever I can to help this team win.”



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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JJ McCarthy ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten by major media outlet

The Michigan Wolverines boast the best quarterback in the conference this year.

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Michigan football No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Michigan Wolverines are heading into a season full of massive expectations. While Michigan football always has tons of pressure to perform well on the field, this year the expectations are especially high — the Wolverines have won back-to-back Big Ten titles and made the CFP twice in a row while finishing no worse than 12-2 over the past two seasons. Now, heading into the 2023 season, Michigan has its best roster (on paper) that fans have seen in decades. The leader of the team, rising junior quarterback JJ McCarthy, was recently ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten by 247 Sports.

JJ McCarthy ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten by 247 Sports

Recently, ahead of the new season this fall, Michigan rising junior QB JJ McCarthy was ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten. After leading Michigan football to an impressive 13-1 (10-0 Big Ten) season which ended with a conference title and CFP appearance, the Wolverines are looking to go from “good” to “great” at the quarterback position this year. If Michigan football is to win a national championship this season, McCarthy will have to meet these massive expectations.

Here is 247’s explanation as to why McCarthy is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten conference.

This offense should be a well-oiled machine on the ground with Blake Corum returning and will only ask McCarthy to do what he has to in the passing game. He’s a threat with his legs as well. McCarthy accounted for 27 total touchdowns this season and will enter the 2023 campaign with a chip on his shoulder after leading the Wolverines to 13-straight wins prior to an upset loss to TCU in the playoff. And this time around, there’s no McNamara behind him after the former Michigan signal caller transferred to Iowa.

JJ McCarthy is ranked ahead of some notable names and schools, such as Drew Allar (Penn State), Kyle McCord (Ohio State), and others.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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