The Michigan Wolverines recorded one of the most dominant seasons in recent college football history in 2023 en route to winning the program's 12th national title. They finished with a perfect 15-0 record that was capped off by a 34-13 thrashing of Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Michigan overcame significant amounts of adversity during its championship run, but will now be tasked with defending its title with an overhauled roster and coaching staff. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers and was replaced by Sherrone Moore, and quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum are in line to be drafted by NFL teams next week. The 2024 Maize vs. Blue Game will give fans the first opportunity to catch a glimpse of what the 2024 Michigan football team is going to look like.
The 2024 Michigan Spring Game kicks off at noon ET on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Dynamic running back Donovan Edwards will be back, but the Wolverines have massive shoes to fill at the quarterback position. Five players are battling it out for the right to replace McCarthy, and Saturday's action will go a long way towards deciding who will ultimately fill that role. If you want to see the latest Michigan football news, you should join The Michigan Insider, the 247Sports affiliate that covers the Michigan Wolverines, before the 2024 Michigan football spring game kicks off.
The team at The Michigan Insider is proved on-the-ground updates on every development in the coaching moves this offseason, including insights from Sam Webb, Steve Lorenz, Zach Shaw and Alejandro Zuniga. The unrivaled insider team has decades of experience and their finger on the pulse of everything Michigan football.
The team at The Michigan Insider has extensive coverage of the 2024 Michigan football spring game, including injury information and potential depth chart changes. Head to The Michigan Insider and join now to see the latest updates regarding spring practice and the 2024 Maize and Blue Game.
Insight on the Michigan quarterback battle
It's never easy to replace one of the top players in program history. It's even more difficult when it also happens to be at the most important position on the field. With J.J. McCarthy moving on to the NFL, that is exactly what Michigan is doing during its spring practices and annual Maize vs. Blue Game.
McCarthy will likely be selected in the top half of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Wolverines have five players vying to replace him. The most recognizable name on the list of potential candidates for most fans is Alex Orji, who is a dynamic athlete, but has only attempted one pass in two seasons at the collegiate level. Orji is competing with the likes of Jayden Denegal, Jadyn Davis, Jack Tuttle and Davis Warren. Tuttle will be in his sixth season of college football (four at Indiana and one at Michigan), and brings plenty of experience to the battle. Get the latest on the Michigan quarterback battle by joining The Michigan Insider.
Michigan's defense looks to remain elite under new staff
The Wolverines led the nation in scoring defense last season, while also ranking in the top six of the country versus the run, versus the pass and total defense. However, there is a lot of turnover from that unit, including the team losing its leading tackler, Junior Colson, leading sack artist, Jaylen Harrell, and defensive coordinator as Jesse Minter followed Harbaugh to the NFL. Longtime coach Don "Wink" Martindale replaces Minter, and he has over 30 years of experience at the college and pro levels. Last season as the New York Giants' DC, his team led the NFL in takeaways, and he previously coached not only alongside Jim Harbaugh but also under both John Harbaugh and their father Jack Harbaugh.
In terms of personnel, Michigan has two incoming four-star defenders in LB Jeremiah Beasley and S Jacob Oden. Both in-state prospects are ranked No. 26 at their respective positions in the Class of 2024, per 247Sports. Additionally, the Wolverines landed LB Jaishawn Barham from the transfer portal after he was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention at Maryland. With a handful of returning starters to help maintain continuity, the defense should again be the biggest strength for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines football team and a unit to keep an eye on in the Maize vs. Blue Game 2024. Get the latest defensive depth chart notes and analysis by joining The Michigan Insider.
How to get insider information on Michigan football
The staff at The Michigan Insider also has updates on the rebuilt offensive line, scheme changes and an emerging safety who "has really stepped up" this spring. See who it is, and get all the VIP spring updates, by joining The Michigan Insider.
What are the top storylines fans should watch for on Saturday at the Maize vs. Blue Game 2024? Visit The Michigan Insider to see all the latest Maize vs. Blue Game news, all from a team of reporters with decades of experience covering the Wolverines, and find out.
