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Michigan has something to prove in 2020. Whether it can replace a possible 12 NFL Draftees — though eight seems to be the prognosis by 7-round mocks — put in a new quarterback, regroup on defense and not miss a beat.
Oh, and there’s a game against Washington to start the season in Seattle, and the regular season finale at Ohio State.
Michigan will have its work cut out for it.
Gone are the days of publications giving the Wolverines the benefit of the doubt. Jim Harbaugh won just one bowl game out of five in his tenure in Ann Arbor, and has lost all five times to the Buckeyes. Pundits aren’t willing to put the maize and blue in college football’s upper echelon until it proves itself worthy of such praise.
The Wolverines have won big games, but they’re inconsistent.
Thus, ESPN, in their too-early Top 25, put Michigan right where it finished the season — at No. 15.
Outlook: Who’s got it better than us? Well, Ohio State for starters, and maybe Penn State and Wisconsin in the Big Ten. Michigan is 47-18 under coach Jim Harbaugh, including some unsightly records — 0-5 against the Buckeyes, 1-4 in bowl games and 2-11 against AP top 10 opponents. Is there any reason to believe the Wolverines’ fortunes in big games will change in Year 6? It seems like Michigan and Harbaugh have reached a crossroads. His contract is set to expire after the 2021 season, and there’s been little movement to extend it. On the field, the Wolverines will go into spring practice looking for a new quarterback — Dylan McCaffrey, Christian’s younger brother, is the favorite to replace Patterson. Either McCaffrey or Joe Milton will have a plethora of playmakers around him, including receivers Ronnie Bell and Nico Collins, tight end Nick Eubanks and tailbacks Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins.
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The schedule proves tough, the way the worldwide leader sees it.
Michigan will play at No. 2 Ohio State, host No. 5 Penn State and No. 13 Wisconsin and will also travel to No. 16 Minnesota in 2020. Washington and Michigan State — both breaking in new head coaches — are not ranked in the early Top 25.