Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Wolverine Wednesday: Championship Week News and Notes

Michigan ended up at #2 in the CFP rankings last night which means they would play Washington if everything ends up "chalk" this weekend.  The issue is Washington is almost a 10 point dog to Oregon and FSU at #4 is missing their QB.   Bama and Texas will need some help jumping into the CFP this weekend.   OSU is also lurking around at #6. 


Will Johnson actually got hurt in practice during OSU week.  He did his best to play in the game and had a pick but couldn't continue in the 2nd half.  He is questionable this weekend and I expect he won't play against Iowa's high powered offense.  He of course wants to play. 

Mike Hart was hired by Michigan off the IU staff where he was very popular and did a tremendous job with the RB's.  He will now interview for the IU head coaching role.  Don't know if you can win there, so I would hope he considers that if he gets an offer.  Tom Allen hinted when he got fired that IU hasn't really embraced NIL yet.  Also the entire team is in the transfer portal.

Big Ten Defensive and Special Team Honors:

1st Team: Mason Graham, Will Johnson
2nd: Junior Colson, Ken Grant, Kris Jenkins, Mike Sainristil
3rd: Mike Barrett, Rod Moore 
HR: Harrell, McGregor, Moore, Paige, Stewart, and Wallace

Special Teams:
2nd: James Turner 
3rd: Tommy Doman
HR: Semaj Morgan

  • Over 19M viewers watched The Game! Peaked at nearly 23M
  • Oregon State hired its DC Trent Bray to replace Jontahan Smith who jumped to MSU
  • If Michigan wants to keep Harbaugh's name from being tied to every NFL head coach opening, they better get him signed to a very long extension ASAP!
  • David Ojabo has a partially torn ACL
  • Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen who was rumored to be a transfer candidate to Michigan last off season, has declared for the NFL Draft.
  • Today is #6 CoJo's Birthday!
  • Michigan has offered a soon to be Penn graduate Defensive Lineman out of the portal named Joey Slackman.  Joey is a FCS All-American and could be a great replacement for Kris Jenkins next year.  Some consider him the top player in the portal. 

7 comments:

Ron said...

Ivy league player top player in transfer protocolšŸ¤” I is Miles hiton doing has anybody heard?

Chowman said...

so just saw on another site that Erick All, who tore his ACL in week 7 led all Hawkeye receivers in every category: TDs (3), Yds (299) and receptions (21). That's how anemic the Iowa offense is. Don't want to jinx it, but if Michigan loses its cause they beat themselves and not that Iowa went out and won the game. Don't force it, let the game come to you. Iowa banks on the opposition offense to make mistakes. They play 2 high safeties and count of the front 7 to shut down the running game. Just don't think that defense can hold up for entire game against Michigan. Iowa's offense will have plenty of 3 and outs. It'll look ugly for the 1st half, but eventually, Iowa's D should run out of gas and that's when Michigan will begin to roll. DON'T give Iowa a short field. Make them drive the length of the field. they are incapable of of drives of 8 or more plays.

Brady2017 said...

Little bit of an irk when other teams' seasons are over and think its ok to start poaching coaches off Michigan's coaching staff. At least have the respect to wait until after New Years to start the coach stealing, er, I mean interviewing.

szanreno said...

Silence is Golden,,,, Golden. Is that how the song's lyrics go.
The sign-gate trolls on social media and the message boards have dried up. I'm sure Jimmy is busy with all the cards and messages of apology he has received since Saturday. I found it curious that of all the coaches, asst coaches, players, ex-players, pundits, analysists, Steven A, Paul F. all of ESPN and etc. not one person, not one, during Michigan's winning streak said, "It's almost as if they have the other team's signs". Someone would surely be wise enough to recognize it and bring it to light. Then when the news breaks, they all become experts. Now nothing. Last year Michigan said after the 1st quarter of the Illinois game they were pretty sure Illinois had their signs but just went to wrist bands. Pretty simple really. No bitching, No drama, No excuses. Feild goal, we win. Lastly, I don't hear a lot of talk /game planning about the Iowa game. That is scary. Are we that sure we will win? As Chowman alluded to, give Iowa life a few times and they may back into a win. Iowa thrives on that. This is Jay Harbaugh's time to shine. Special teams will be key. Glad Jimmy's back. Good Luck. God's Speed. Go Blue!

Blue said...

Great slate of championship games to watch this weekend, of which I expect the current top 4 CFP teams to be a different color when the final rankings are announced this coming Sunday (Selection Day).

With the one exception being Michigan, (unless the work of God intercedes), Georgia, Washington, and Florida State all face opponents that can win their respective contest, and thus their respective conference championship, opening the door for a possible CFP invite.

If that does occur, is when it gets interesting.

Dependent on who beats who, with other teams now ranked in the top 4 of the CFP, who could Michigan end up playing? Oregon? Texas? Alabama? Or how about Ohio St.? How would one feel in playing & beating Ohio St. for a second time in the CFP? Better yet, playing & beating Ohio St. for the Natty .... Myself no words could describe other than, it would be an extraordinarily magical feeling!

Or does one hope for no inclusion for the bucknuts into the CFP, and savor the feeling of victory over them the next 360 odd days?

szanreno said...

Blue, matchup with OSU is a no-win situation... It would be a good feeling but... IMHO...

Blue said...

szanreno, Agree, let us bask in the yearlong sun with a victory, with hopefully Ohio having no reprieve in backing in while it wallows in excuse for not winning.