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Two games that will define Michigan football in 2023

Heading into the 2023 Michigan football season, there are two games that will define the Wolverines’ year and the outcome of the Big Ten.

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Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (29) just misses knocking down the ball while Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Roman Wilson (14) makes a catch during the third quarter in a NCAA College football game at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021 | © Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Now that we know Jim Harbaugh is staying put as the head coach of Michigan football, we can start to turn our attention to the future. Right now, the Wolverines are coming off of back-to-back Big Ten Championships and top-3 finishes, and in 2023, we could see the best Michigan team Jim Harbaugh has ever assembled.

Returning starters make Michigan football dangerous in 2023

Right now, the Wolverines are looking like a force on both sides of the ball. As far as we know, Michigan football will retain its entire coaching staff, including the most important coaches: head coach, offensive coordinator(s), and defensive coordinator. On top of that, U-M returns its starting quarterback — rising junior JJ McCarthy — much of its receiving corps, its elite running back duo, much of its top-ranked offensive line, and more.

With nearly all of Michigan’s draft eligible players staying put, not to mention its incredible transfer class, the Wolverines are in great shape to make a run at a National Championship in 2023.

Michigan has an elite transfer class

As many Michigan football fans know by now, the Wolverines have a stacked transfer class on its way into Ann Arbor this fall. Michigan has pulled seven players from the portal in 2022-23 — six have Power Five experience, and all but two are 247 Sports 4-star transfers.

A month or so ago, Michigan’s class was rated No. 1 overall in the nation; however, since the season ended and other player-needy teams (such as LSU and Colorado) have picked up on the transfer trail, the Wolverines’ class is down to No. 9 nationally. That being said, its seven players are all still committed and ready to make an impact this season.

Michigan’s class includes three offensive linemen, a quarterback, a tight end, a linebacker, and a defensive end; these players should all fit in nicely with Jim Harbaugh’s football ideology.

Two games that will define Michigan football this year

Right now, Michigan football seems to have a clear-cut path to a third-straight Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines’ non-conference schedule is pretty easy, and Michigan’s only true road test is at Penn State in mid-November. Additionally, Michigan gets Ohio State in the Big House to end the season.

Here is Michigan’s 2023 slate:

  • 9/2, East Carolina
  • 9/9, UNLV
  • 9/16, Bowling Green
  • 9/23, Rutgers
  • 9/30, at Nebraska
  • 10/7, at Minnesota
  • 10/14, at Indiana
  • 10/21, at Michigan State
  • 11/4, Purdue
  • 11/11, at Penn State
  • 11/18, at Maryland
  • 11/25, Ohio State

While there could be another team or two that sneaks into the top-25, I suspect that the only preseason ranked teams that Michigan football will face are Penn State and Ohio State; in fact, those two games will define the Big Ten football season in 2023.

Penn State is coming off of an 11-2 Rose Bowl-winning season in 2022; however, in mid-October that same Penn State team got routed by Michigan, 41-17. Still, the Nittany Lions are incredibly young, and so far have used the portal well to reload from last season. If Michigan loses a game this fall, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was at one of the toughest places to win a football game: Beaver Stadium in State College, PA.

Since Lloyd Carr retired, Michigan football was two wins at Beaver Stadium: 2015 and 2021. Both of those Michigan teams went on to finish in the top-11, meanwhile, both of those Penn State teams finished 7-6 and unranked.

Additionally, per usual, Michigan will face off against Ohio State in the final game of the year; also known as ‘The Game.’ This one doesn’t need too much analysis; as we all know, Michigan vs. Ohio State will likely be the game that decides who wins the Big Ten and heads to the College Football Playoff.

If the Wolverines can escape these two games with a 2-0 record, I see another 12-0 season and Big Ten Championship — if not more — on its way to Ann Arbor.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebookand 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 or DM him on Twitter, @CJsWrld_.

FOOTBALL

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.”



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FOOTBALL

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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