So much has happened in our world since the last time we saw Michigan play a football game, a 35-16 loss to Alabama on New Year’s Day. In keeping with the theme of 2020, the Wolverines head into this season full of unknowns. Analysts and pundits have responded to Michigan’s abundance of question marks by keeping expectations muted. Michigan enters Saturday’s season opener in Minnesota ranked No. 18 in the country, their lowest preseason ranking since 2015, Jim Harbaugh’s first year at the helm.

Could flying under the radar be just what Jim Harbaugh needs to finally unlock the missing ingredient that has held Michigan back from reaching their full potential during his tenure? Is being free of any realistic title aspirations – national or conference – actually a good thing for this team?

I have no idea. But I’ve suspected it for years, and this season offers an opportunity to put my theory to the test.

Let’s dive into a collection of Michigan football storylines that I am interested in this season. Strap in, we don’t know where this train is taking us.

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Tuff sleddin’

Perhaps the biggest reason people are lukewarm on Michigan’s overall prospects this season isn’t the Wolverines’ laundry list of unknowns. It’s actually quite quantifiable:

The schedule is nasty.

Six games (out of 8 total) against 2019 bowl teams, four games against 10-win teams, and an overall .625 opponent winning percentage from last season ain’t gonna be easy. On top of that, Michigan does not have the benefit of working out the kinks against non-conference cupcakes prior to B1G season, which is a timeless tradition for the Maize and Blue.

The difficulty of that slate has 5-3 written all over it, which is the most common prediction I have come across while making my rounds and checking the national temperature surrounding this team. There’s potential for even worse with a bad bounce here or a “trouble with the snap” there.

A road date with Minnesota – one of the aforementioned 10-win teams from a year ago (11-2) – to open the season will make it a trial by fire scenario for Michigan, which just might be a good thing. The chaotic offseason could be a blessing in disguise for this team if it prevents the coaching staff from overpreparing (last year’s B1G opener against Wisconsin, anyone?) and simply allows it’s players to play more off of athleticism and instinct.

Roster (de)construction

The team we see when Michigan takes the field against the Gophers will look very different than the one that lost to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. While it lacked star power, Michigan’s whopping 10-player NFL draft class leaves a gaping hole, while the opt-outs of WR Nico Collins and CB Ambry Thomas represent an unexpected loss of two of the most talented players on each side of the ball.

Thankfully, Michigan is still a revolving door of talent, and they have players with star potential at nearly every position group.

On the defensive side of the ball, DE Kwity Paye has been garnering buzz for topping Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List”.

Paye has Round 1 NFL Draft aspirations, despite not even being the best prospect on Michigan’s defensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, that honor goes to Aidan Hutchinson. Speaking of letting athletes being athletes, these two monsters could be a matchup nightmare for opposing offenses, giving some of the less experienced defensive players room to grow into their new roles.

Linebacker Cam McGrone has early-round aspirations of his own. Safety Daxton Hill was the top player in the country at his position in high school and bring 5-star upside to the secondary. All told, if the production matches the talent, this has the makings of being another top-tier Michigan defense.

Offensively, it’s a less dynamic group, but still one that offers NFL quality players. A deep running back room full of players that have been here for what seems like a decade (Evans, Haskins, Charbonnet) and an offensive line that has the profile to excel in the run blocking department has “Michigan football” written all over it. Get ready for the cliches now, folks.

At WR, old reliable Ronnie Bell (except that one time…) figures to step into the WR1 role, while Giles Jackson could emerge as the big-play threat. TE Nick Eubanks returns for his 37th season at UofM (he turns 24 next month) and should provide the comfort of a warm blanket during December Big Ten football.

While Michigan’s roster turnover from 2019 doesn’t necessarily prevent it from being elite in 2020, it does thin out the depth at several key positions. As the NFL has taught us, the lack of a normal offseason of conditioning and prep means that injuries are a-comin’, and the teams that navigate the injury bug will be the ones standing in the end. The position groups to watch here are WR, LB, and CB.

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that I have left out one particular position. That’s because it’s so important that it deserves it’s own dedicated space. Let’s dive into the biggest unknown of the season…

Rome wasn’t Milton a day

I’m sorry. I’m a play on words guy, and that lame-ass line was the best I could come up with. Admittedly not my best work.

Following the opt-out and upcoming transfer of QB Dylan McCaffrey – a curious decision for a player whose family had been at the forefront of the #LetThemPlay movement, protesting the initial cancellation of the Big Ten season – Joe Milton has been given the reigns to this offense.

Contrary to the overall team outlook being modest, Joe Milton is starting to get the “next big thing” treatment that comes with being the leader of a historical powerhouse like Michigan.

To be fair, the coaching staff is fanning these flames as much as anyone. Just take this quote from Offensive Coordinator Josh Gattis (via The Athletic):

“Every day out there he makes some type of ‘wow’ play,” Gattis said. “Those ‘wow’ plays are not just ‘wow’ plays in college football. They’d be ‘wow’ plays on Sundays.”

Holy hyperbole Batman! The spotlight is going to be bright enough on this kid without his coaches labeling him as an NFL quarterback…before making his first collegiate start. Gattis didn’t stop there. Here’s more on the tools Milton brings to work every day:

“Joe’s got a special talent,” Gattis said. “He’s a quarterback that’s blessed with a tremendous skill set with (his) arm and accuracy. He has every throw in the bag, plus the extra club you don’t necessarily need to carry all the time.”

Speaking of things you don’t need to carry, how about the weight of the world on your shoulders? Let Milton show us all these things you see in practice every day, rather than putting those expectations out there for the world to digest. Milton’s limited game action over the past two seasons has put nothing on tape to suggest he will be playing on Sundays. Why not play it coy and give the generic cookie-cutter “he’s our guy” type stuff that other coaches are so good at?

For a much more reasonable take on Milton’s outlook, here is The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner:

Doesn’t mean he’s going to light the world on fire. He could struggle early. In fact, given all the offseason restrictions, perhaps that should almost be an expectation. Milton knows his arm is an X-factor, he also knows you can’t solve every problem on a field by chucking the ball 85 yards. There’s a lot more to it than that.

Moving on from the Shea Patterson era offers a chance for a fresh start for the Michigan offense. It took nearly two years for us to move the goalposts on what we expected from Patterson. In hindsight, he was closer to game manager than Heisman candidate. In that sense, it’s understandable that people would be excited for what comes next. But we need to be cognizant of the fact that, while Milton offers a higher ceiling than Patterson, he also initially comes with a lower floor.

I touched on athletes being athletes earlier, and no one should heed that advice more than Milton. If he feels like he needs to validate his coaches’ excitement and try and make a ‘wow’ play on every snap, things could turn ugly in a hurry. The big plays will come in time. Against Minnesota, Milton should lean on the run game, make a few plays with his own legs, and take the shots that are available. This should smooth the transition into the post-Patterson era of Michigan football.

Enjoy flying low while you still can

At this time next season, there will be no shortage of storylines that will thrust Michigan back into the national spotlight.

Jim Harbaugh will be entering the final year of his contract. Michigan will be bringing in what is currently the No. 8 recruiting class in the country. There could be a three-headed quarterback competition between returning starter Milton, current redshirt freshman and 4-star recruit Cade Mcnamara, and incoming 5-star J.J. McCarthy. The 2021 schedule should also lighten up considerably, with the Ohio State game flipping to Ann Arbor (not that it ever really makes a difference) and an easier non-division schedule (has Michigan played Purdue this century?).

Lofty expectations always, always, ALWAYS lead to disappointing seasons for the Wolverines. But 5-3 doesn’t hurt as bad when you see it coming and have an unlimited supply of excuses if things go south (COVID, tough schedule, inexperienced QBs, etc.).

I, for one, am going to try and enjoy this season for what it is: unpredictable. A month ago we didn’t even think this season would be happening, yet here we are. Let’s enjoy the distraction and embrace the unknown.

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