Michigan is coming off of a National Championship in 2023, but the Wolverines will look entirely different when they take the field in ’24. Sherrone Moore will lead Michigan out of the tunnel and will be surrounded by a new-look coaching staff. The Wolverines are replacing several key players including QB J.J. McCarthy.
The story this offseason will be who steps up as the signal caller in Ann Arbor? Which receivers emerge to take on the production that Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson contributed? And what will the offensive line look like in 2024?
But for now, I’m going to look at the 2024 football schedule and give my way-too-early game-by-game predictions for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines.
Week 1 (Aug. 31): v.s. Fresno State
Michigan has dominated the past three home openers (Western Michigan, Colorado State, and ECU). But this will be a little different for the Wolverines. Not only will Michigan unleash a new-look offense in Week 1 that doesn’t have either Blake Corum or J.J. McCarthy, but Fresno State has been a solid team the past two seasons (10-4 and 9-4). While the Bulldogs will be a step up in competition to what Michigan has faced in its home openers in recent years, the Wolverines are still too talented and Michigan’s defense will be stifling. Whoever earns the starting QB job — my guess as of now is Alex Orji — might start a little slow, but will get things rolling by halftime for the Wolverines to win handily.
Prediction: Michigan 38, Fresno State 10
Week 2 (Sep. 7): v.s. Texas
For those who laugh about the Wolverines’ non-conference schedule won’t be laughing anymore. After facing a talented Fresno State team, the Wolverines get the pleasure of hosting a top-five Texas team. This feels like a toss-up right now. Michigan might have the best defense in the country, but will the inexperienced QB have enough to beat a top team? If this game were away, I would pick Texas, but the Big House will be rocking and Michigan’s defense will make enough plays to win a close game at home.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Texas 24
Week 3 (Sep. 14): v.s. Arkansas State
After a tough task in Week 2, the Wolverines will get an Arkansas State team at home that finished below .500 last year. The Wolverines should stick to the script of this past year where they can get out to a big lead and be able to play some backups before a Week 4 matchup with USC.
Prediction: Michigan 49, Arkansas State 7
Week 4 (Sep. 21): v.s. USC
Michigan will get its first taste of USC in the Big Ten. The Trojans have been disappointing under Lincoln Riley. USC has been highly ranked every year, but Riley’s defense has been a letdown and hasn’t been able to perform in big games. While Michigan might not be electrifying, offensively, the Wolverines still have some skill players that should be able to outplay the Trojans’ defense — especially at home. USC will also be breaking in a new QB with Caleb Williams gone, and he will have the pleasure of playing against the Michigan defense.
Prediction: Michigan 31, USC 20
Week 5 (Sep. 28): v.s. Minnesota
Minnesota has been a solid, not great, football team the past few seasons. The Gophers usually have a good defense but their offense has been underwhelming. QB Athan Kaliakmanis is now at Rutgers and Minnesota went out and grabbed New Hampshire QB Max Brosmer from the portal. He was great there, but how will he fare in the Big Ten? Minnesota will have too many question marks to hang with Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Prediction: Michigan 34, Minnesota 14
Week 6 (Oct. 5): @ Washington
Michigan’s first away game will be a rematch of the National Championship Game featuring the Wolverines and Washington Huskies. Much like the Wolverines, Washington will look like a totally different team. Coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama, Michael Penix Jr, Rome Odunze, and others are gone. Washington landed Jedd Fisch to become its next head coach, which was a great hire, but it might take him a couple of years to get the Huskies to be where he wants them to be in the new Big Ten. While there are similarities between Michigan and Washington with the turnover, one thing that’s different is that the Huskies don’t have the depth the Wolverines have. I see Michigan getting a big road win before a bye week.
Prediction: Michigan 24, Washington 17
Week 7: Bye
Week 8 (Oct. 19): @ Illinois
After its first bye of the season, Michigan heads to Illinois — a team that finished below .500 in 2023. The Illini are bound to be an improved team in 2024, but will they be on the same level as Michigan? You could call this a trap game with the Michigan State game looming for the Wolverines, but I don’t see how Illinois will defeat Michigan when the clock hits zero. The Wolverines are too skilled and once again, the defense will be legit.
Prediction: Michigan 30, Illinois 13
Week 9 (Oct. 26): v.s. Michigan State
Michigan gets Sparty at home in 2024 and MSU has had the turnover itself. Michigan State parted ways with Mel Tucker in the middle of 2023, and the Spartans have since hired Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith. Smith appears to be a good hire for MSU, but right now, the talent gap is significant between the two teams. It will more than likely take a few years for Smith to get his players in East Lansing and turn the program into what he wants it to be. While this is a rivalry game and anything can happen, Michigan is just too much for MSU in Week 9 of the year.
Prediction: Michigan 35, Michigan State 10
Week 10 (Nov. 2): v.s. Oregon
I have Michigan at 8-0 entering a contest with Oregon in the Big House. This will more than likely be College GameDay and Big Noon Kickoff will the national eye on the Wolverines and Ducks. This probably won’t be a popular take, but I look for Oregon to win the Big Ten this season, and if it does that, that would mean Oregon probably beats the Wolverines. The Ducks already had an explosive offense and they went out and landed Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel to take over the QB spot for a season. While I think Michigan will be competitive in the game, and take it down to the wire, I look for the Ducks to give Michigan its first loss of the year — as of now.
Prediction: Oregon 34, Michigan 30
Week 11 (Nov. 9): @ Indiana
Michigan will now get a chance to rebound against a new-look Indiana squad. The Hoosiers have historically been competitive against Michigan when it comes to late-season games, but after a tough loss to Oregon, the Wolverines will be out for a big win. Michigan will have a bye week following this game, and the Wolverines should pour every ounce into winning big against the Hoosiers. Don’t forget, new head coach Curt Cignetti called out Michigan during an IU basketball game. “I’m super fired up about this opportunity. I’ve never taken a back seat to anybody and don’t plan on starting now! Purdue sucks! But so does Michigan and Ohio State! Go IU!”
Prediction: Michigan 45, Indiana 10
Week 12: Bye
Week 13 (Nov. 23): v.s. Northwestern
Michigan will face a stingy Northwestern team before the big game against the Buckeyes. Once again, this could be a trap game, but by this time of the season, the Wolverines shouldn’t be looking ahead thanks to their veterans. Look for the maize and blue to try and put this game out of reach early during the last home game of the season.
Prediction: Michigan 35, Northwestern 13
Week 14 (Nov. 30): @ Ohio State
Michigan was dominant against Ohio State in the past three contests. The Wolverines easily won the line of scrimmage in all three games and if Michigan is going to win in Columbus it will have to do so again. Ryan Day and OSU will be chopping at the bit to beat Michigan after losing three in a row. While I think the Wolverines have a chance to make it four in a row, Day’s job is hinging on this win after going out and winning the offseason. I look for it to be a back-and-forth game, but as of this writing, I think OSU will get the job done at home.
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Michigan 30
Final record:
I’ve got Michigan going 10-2 in the regular season. With the 12-team playoff, that record should get the Wolverines into the field. While Michigan won’t get a first-round bye, or maybe not even a home game, Michigan will have a chance to make a run at the title.
