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This is a big year for Jim Harbaugh.
I know, I sound like a broken record. Every year for the past four seasons has been dubbed a “big one” for Harbaugh and Michigan. But coming off a 2-4 campaign in 2020, the program’s first losing season under the head coach, it feels like the Wolverines need to make significant improvement.
Harbaugh made major changes to the coaching staff, going for a younger, more energetic approach. There’s been a lot of talk about it being an advantage, but until toe meets leather in September, we won’t really understand the impact.
Even though Michigan struggled last year, there are going to be a lot of eyeballs on Harbaugh’s program as he enters his seventh season. Before we reach kickoff, here are five bold predictions for the Wolverines in 2021:
1. Hype builds after a 4-0 start
For the first time since 2015, Michigan wasn’t ranked in either the USA TODAY Coaches or Associated Press preseason polls. Don’t worry, though, Harbaugh’s squad will find a way into the Top 25 after starting the season 4-0.
Michigan couldn’t have asked for a better September slate. The Wolverines open with Western Michigan before hosting No. 20 Washington. They’ll then close out the month against Northern Illinois and Rutgers. All four games are at home.
Obviously, beating a ranked Washington team in Week 2 is the toughest challenge, but I still like Michigan’s overall talent in the matchup. It sets up the chance of a 4-0 start to the year and a major showdown against Wisconsin on Oct. 2.
2. Donovan Edwards will be in the B1G Freshman of the Year conversation
Both Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis have made it clear that Edwards is going to be on the field immediately. That should tell us that the former 4-star running back is going to see quite a bit of work out of the backfield this fall.
Where Edwards lands on the depth chart is still unknown, battling Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum for touches. If he’s making this big of an impact in fall camp, though, there should be some confidence that the freshman will be able to help elevate a rushing attack that averaged 131.5 yards per game last season, ranking 11th in the B1G. Don’t expect Edwards to be a 1,000-yard rusher, but he might be one of the best newcomers in the B1G this fall.
3. Michigan will play multiple starting quarterbacks
Right now, Cade McNamara is the guy. From spring through fall camp, he’s been the leader to land the starting job for the 2021 season. His experience is limited, but he did throw for 425 yards, 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions while completing passes at a 60.6% clip. McNamara’s potential was on display in that comeback win over Rutgers.
We’ve also seen this before at Michigan. Joe Milton was tabbed as the next Cam Newton, only to be benched late in the season and ultimately transfer to Tennessee. Harbaugh wouldn’t have poached former Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman out of the transfer portal if there wasn’t at least some concern about the position. Plus, there’s going to be a lot of folks clamoring to see 5-star freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy if things go awry at some point in the year.
Bottom line: We’ll see Michigan start multiple quarterbacks throughout the season.
4. Players respond to Mike Macdonald’s defense
Veteran defensive back Daxton Hill was not shy to say that he feels like there’s a little more excitement to play with some freedom versus what was requested under Don Brown. That sounds like there’s a lot of trust between Macdonald and the players. I suspect that will result in a more confident defensive group in Ann Arbor.
There’s still going to be a learning curve, but if the players are already responding well to the new schemes, that’s a good sign. It’s obviously going to be a lot different when Michigan has to line it up against an actual opponent.
Macdonald wants to put guys in position to thrive. He wants to play to their strengths. While this defense still has some question marks, it’s going to look a lot better than it near the end of Brown’s run with the program.
5. Another loss to Ohio State
The question has become the every year: Will Harbaugh finally get over the hump against Ohio State?
At B1G Media Days, Harbaugh said he was as enthusiastic as ever at accomplishing that goal. He’s not shying away from the goals and expectations he set out to accomplish when he first took the job. But it doesn’t mean he’s going to win this year.
Once again, Ohio State still has too much talent and Michigan too many questions. Even in the years when the Wolverines have seemed to have the superior team, the Buckeyes have figured out a way to win. Call me crazy, but I expect to see Ohio State make it nine straight against Michigan this year.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB