Michigan Wolverines Football 2023 Season Preview: Strengths, Weaknesses, & Schedule

Estimated read time 10 min read

Introduction about Michigan Wolverines football team

The Michigan Wolverines football team is the intercollegiate American football team that represents the University of Michigan. The team competes in the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The Wolverines have won 11 national championships, the most of any college football team.

The Wolverines’ Team name is the Michigan Wolverines, and their shortname is the Wolverines. The team’s owner is the University of Michigan, and its head coach is Jim Harbaugh.

Some of the Wolverines’ most prominent players include

  • Tom Harmon (1940s)
  • Bo Schembechler (1960s-1980s)
  • Jim Harbaugh (1980s-1990s)
  • Charles Woodson (1990s)
  • Denard Robinson (2000s-2010s)
  • Jabrill Peppers (2010s)

The Wolverines play their home games at Michigan Stadium, which is the largest stadium in the United States. The stadium is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has a capacity of 107,601.

The Wolverines have a long and storied history, and are one of the most successful college football programs in the country. They are a perennial contender for the Big Ten championship and the national championship.

History about Michigan Wolverines football team

The Michigan Wolverines football team was founded in 1879. The team’s first game was played on May 30, 1879, against Racine College. Michigan won the game 1–0.

The Wolverines have had a long and successful history. They have won 11 national championships, the most of any college football team. They have also won 44 Big Ten championships.

The Wolverines play their home games at Michigan Stadium, which is the largest stadium in the United States. The stadium is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has a capacity of 107,601.

The Wolverines have a long and storied history, and are one of the most successful college football programs in the country. They are a perennial contender for the Big Ten championship and the national championship.

Here are some of the team’s most notable achievements

  • 11 national championships (1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997)
  • 44 Big Ten championships
  • 50 bowl games (21–29 record)
  • 11 Heisman Trophy winners (Tom Harmon, 1940; Archie Griffin, 1974–75; Desmond Howard, 1991; Charles Woodson, 1997)
  • 22 College Football Hall of Fame coaches (including Fielding H. Yost, Fritz Crisler, Bo Schembechler, and Lloyd Carr)
  • 109 consensus All-Americans

The Wolverines have had a long and storied history, and are one of the most successful college football programs in the country. They are a perennial contender for the Big Ten championship and the national championship.

Coaching Staff Information about Michigan Wolverines football team

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh

  • Harbaugh is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, and Chicago Bears. He also played college football at the University of Michigan.
  • Harbaugh was hired as the Wolverines’ head coach in 2015. He has a record of 49-22 in his six seasons at Michigan.
  • Harbaugh’s coaching philosophy is to play an aggressive, high-octane offense. He also emphasizes discipline and toughness on defense.

Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs: Steve Clinkscale

  • Clinkscale is a former college football player who played wide receiver at the University of Kentucky.
  • Clinkscale began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kentucky in 2012. He has also coached at Alabama, Auburn, and Missouri.
  • Clinkscale was hired by Michigan as the co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2022.
  • Clinkscale’s coaching philosophy is to play an aggressive, attacking defense. He also emphasizes creating turnovers.

Defensive Coordinator: Jesse Minter

  • Minter is a former college football player who played linebacker at the University of Tennessee.
  • Minter began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 2009. He has also coached at Georgia, Cincinnati, and Vanderbilt.
  • Minter was hired by Michigan as the defensive coordinator in 2022.
  • Minter’s coaching philosophy is to play a physical, attacking defense. He also emphasizes creating turnovers.

Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach: Sherrone Moore

  • Moore is a former college football player who played offensive line at the University of Michigan.
  • Moore began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2006. He has also coached at San Diego State, SMU, and Arkansas.
  • Moore was hired by Michigan as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach in 2022.
  • Moore’s coaching philosophy is to build a strong offensive line that can protect the quarterback and open up holes for the running backs.

Quarterbacks Coach: Kirk Campbell

  • Campbell is a former college football player who played quarterback at the University of Central Florida.
  • Campbell began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UCF in 2013. He has also coached at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech.
  • Campbell was hired by Michigan as the quarterbacks coach in 2022.
  • Campbell’s coaching philosophy is to develop quarterbacks who can make plays under pressure and lead their teams to victory.

Wide Receivers Coach: Ron Bellamy

  • Bellamy is a former college football player who played wide receiver at the University of Michigan.
  • Bellamy began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2013. He has also coached at Western Michigan and Indiana.
  • Bellamy was hired by Michigan as the wide receivers coach in 2022.
  • Bellamy’s coaching philosophy is to develop wide receivers who can make plays down the field and stretch the defense.

Defensive Line Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: Mike Elston

  • Elston is a former college football player who played defensive end at the University of Michigan.
  • Elston began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2007. He has also coached at Western Michigan and Notre Dame.
  • Elston was hired by Michigan as the defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator in 2022.
  • Elston’s coaching philosophy is to develop defensive linemen who can get to the quarterback and stop the run.

Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties Coach: Jay Harbaugh

  • Harbaugh is a former college football player who played quarterback at the University of Michigan.
  • Harbaugh began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2008. He has also coached at San Diego, San Francisco, and the Baltimore Ravens.
  • Harbaugh was hired by Michigan as the special teams coordinator/safeties coach in 2015.
  • Harbaugh’s coaching philosophy is to create a special teams unit that can win games. He also emphasizes discipline and toughness on defense.

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs Coach: Mike Hart

  • Hart is a former college football player who played running back at the University of Michigan.
  • Hart began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2013. He has also coached at Western Michigan and Indiana.
  • Hart was hired by Michigan as the run game coordinator/running backs coach in 2022.
  • Hart’s coaching philosophy is to develop running backs who can run

Michigan Wolverines football team information about players

NameJerseyPositionHeightWeightHigh SchoolRating
J.J. McCarthy9Quarterback6’2″212 lbsIMG Academy (FL)5-star
Cade McNamara12Quarterback6’1″205 lbsSaline (MI)4-star
Blake Corum2Running Back5’9″185 lbsBelleville (MI)4-star
Donovan Edwards25Running Back5’11”215 lbsWest Bloomfield (MI)5-star
Olusegun Oluwatimi68Offensive Line6’4″300 lbsSt. Frances Academy (MD)4-star
Zak Zinter71Offensive Line6’4″315 lbsBrighton (MI)4-star
Junior Colson33Linebacker6’2″235 lbsDetroit Cass Tech (MI)4-star
Ronnie Bell35Wide Receiver6’1″195 lbsBloomfield Hills Brother Rice (MI)4-star
Cornelius Johnson81Wide Receiver6’4″220 lbsDetroit Cass Tech (MI)4-star
Andrel Anthony27Defensive Back6’1″195 lbsDetroit King (MI)4-star

These players are all expected to play major roles for the Wolverines in 2023. They are all talented players who have the potential to make a big impact on the team.

Michigan Wolverines football team’s last 10 years of records

YearOverall RecordBig Ten RecordBowl Game
202210-37-2Peach Bowl (W)
20218-54-4Outback Bowl (L)
20202-42-4No bowl game
20199-46-3Citrus Bowl (W)
20188-55-4Redbox Bowl (W)
201710-37-2Outback Bowl (W)
20169-35-3San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (W)
20155-73-5Quick Lane Bowl (L)
20145-73-5Gator Bowl (L)

The Wolverines have had a mixed bag of results in the last 10 years. They have had some good seasons, including a Big Ten championship in 2018, but they have also had some down seasons. They are hoping to build on their success from 2022 and return to the top of the Big Ten in 2023.

Season Preview: Michigan Wolverines football team

The Wolverines are coming off a 10-3 season in 2022, their best season since 2018. They return a lot of talent, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, and wide receiver Ronnie Bell. They also have a new head coach in Josh Gattis, who was previously the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

Gattis is a known offensive guru, and he is expected to bring a more explosive offense to Michigan. The Wolverines will also be looking to improve their defense, which was a weakness in 2022.

The Wolverines have a tough schedule in 2023, but they have the talent to compete with anyone. They will be looking to win the Big Ten East and make a run at the national championship.

Here are some of the major changes to the roster

  • The Wolverines lost several key players to graduation, including defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Josh Ross, and safety Brad Hawkins.
  • They also lost several players to the transfer portal, including defensive back Daxton Hill and wide receiver Roman Wilson.
  • However, they have added some talented players through the transfer portal, including defensive back Darion Green-Warren from Cincinnati and wide receiver Darrius Clemons from Alabama.

Here are the team’s strengths and weaknesses

  • Strengths:
    • The Wolverines have a talented offense led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum.
    • They also have a good receiving corps led by Ronnie Bell and Cornelius Johnson.
    • The Wolverines have a strong offensive line led by Olusegun Oluwatimi and Zak Zinter.
  • Weaknesses:
    • The Wolverines have a young defense that will need to improve.
    • They also have a lack of experience at quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy is only a sophomore.

Here are some potential challenges the Wolverines may face

  • The Wolverines have a tough schedule in 2023, including games against Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State.
  • They also have a young defense that will need to improve if they want to compete for a Big Ten championship.
  • The Wolverines have a lack of experience at quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy is only a sophomore.

Overall, the Wolverines have a lot of talent and potential in 2023. They are expected to be a contender for the Big Ten East and make a run at the national championship. However, they will need to improve their defense and get some experience at quarterback if they want to reach their full potential.

Here is a sortable and searchable table of the Wolverines’ 2023 schedule

DateOpponentLocationTime
September 2East CarolinaAnn Arbor, MI12:00 PM ET
September 9UNLVAnn Arbor, MI12:00 PM ET
September 16Bowling GreenAnn Arbor, MI12:00 PM ET
September 23RutgersPiscataway, NJ3:30 PM ET
September 30at NebraskaLincoln, NE2:30 PM ET
October 7at MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN12:00 PM ET
October 14IndianaAnn Arbor, MI12:00 PM ET
October 21at Michigan StateEast Lansing, MI3:30 PM ET
October 28BYE
November 4PurdueAnn Arbor, MI12:00 PM ET
November 11at Penn StateState College, PA3:30 PM ET
November 18at MarylandCollege Park, MD3:30 PM ET
November 25Ohio StateAnn Arbor, MI12:00 PM ET

FAQs about the Michigan Wolverines Football team

What is the Michigan Wolverines Football team’s record in 2022?

The Michigan Wolverines Football team had a record of 10-3 in 2022. They won the Big Ten East Division and made it to the Peach Bowl, where they lost to Georgia.

Who is the Michigan Wolverines Football team’s head coach?

The Michigan Wolverines Football team’s head coach is Josh Gattis. He was hired in 2022 after previously serving as the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

Who are some of the Michigan Wolverines Football team’s key players?

Some of the Michigan Wolverines Football team’s key players in 2023 include quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, and wide receiver Ronnie Bell.

What is the Michigan Wolverines Football team’s home stadium?

The Michigan Wolverines Football team’s home stadium is Michigan Stadium. It is the largest stadium in the United States, with a capacity of 107,601.

What are the Michigan Wolverines Football team’s biggest rivals?

The Michigan Wolverines Football team’s biggest rivals are Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State. These games are known as the “Big Three” and are always highly competitive.

You May Also Like