Michigan
Opinion: A two-quarterback system could make Michigan very dangerous in 2024
I believe it was NFL legend John Madden who once said, “if you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.” It’s a mindset that the vast majority of college football fans and analysts have adopted, but I’m not sure it’s entirely accurate – particularly when you apply it to the Michigan Wolverines in 2024.
With fall camp set to begin this week, there’s no doubt that all eyes will be on the quarterback battle in Ann Arbor. Although there are technically five guys have will have an opportunity to win the starting job in the coming weeks, the battle for that top spot appears to be between Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji.
Jack Tuttle
Tuttle, who’s entering his seventh year of collegiate football, provides the most experience of any other option on the roster – by far. He spent his first five seasons with Indiana, where he appeared in 15 games and made 5 starts at quarterback. Tuttle was also selected as a team captain for the Hoosiers ahead of the 2022 season. Unfortunately for the veteran quarterback, most of his time has been spent as the backup to two guys who became first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft: Michael Penix Jr. and JJ McCarthy.
Statistically speaking, Tuttle’s numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page. He’s got a career completion percentage of 59.8 and has thrown just 6 touchdowns (along with 6 interceptions) through six seasons. However, he did look relatively solid in limited reps with Michigan last season, completing 15-of-17 attempts for 130 yards and 1 touchdown.
Speaking with reporters during Big Ten Media Days, head coach Sherrone Moore indicated he likes what he’s seen from his veteran QB so far. “Yeah, he’s been great, man,” Moore said. “He’s been accurate. He’s been throwing hard, throwing physical, fast and it looks good.”
Alex Orji
Orji quickly became a fan-favorite during his first two seasons in Ann Arbor. He’s made nine appearances at quarterback over the last two years, and nearly all of his production has come exclusively running the ball. In fact, Orji has attempted just one career pass during his first two seasons – a five yard completion against UConn during his freshman season. As a rusher, Orji has accounted for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns on 21 carries during his collegiate carrier, including 86 yards and 1 touchdown on 15 carries during Michigan’s 2023 National Championship run.
Given his lack of production through the air, there are some who believe that Orji isn’t capable enough – or consistent enough – to solidify himself as the undisputed QB1 for Michigan this fall. Although it’s possible those critics will be proven right in the coming weeks, it’s hard to see any scenario where Orji doesn’t play a significant role in the Michigan offense in 2024, even if it’s primarily as a runner.
According to offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell, Orji is one of the best offensive players on the roster, and getting the ball in his hands will be a priority this fall. “Alex is one of the best 11 players on offense,” Campbell said at a recent NIL event.
“He’s gonna have to touch the football. We will have a plan for him to touch the football.”
A Two-QB System
Although it currently appears to be a two-man battle between Tuttle and Orji, the reality is that it could turn into a two-man system during fall camp. Combined, both options provide most of the things you want in a quarterback: experience, leadership, and a dual-threat ability to keep a defense guessing.
Tuttle is primarily a pass-first quarterback, but he’s also mobile enough to hurt a defense with his legs. Orji is obviously a guy who inflicts the most damage with his legs, but he’s also capable of moving the ball through the air (something he proved during the spring game back in April). Regardless of whether it’s Tuttle or Orji in the game, a pass, run, or an RPO are all options that are on the table.
Individually, I’m not sure that either option is enough to be exactly what Michigan needs at the quarterback position in 2024. But together, the duo of Tuttle and Orji might be the answer that propels the Michigan offense to compete at the highest level this fall. An offense that features two quarterbacks who can hurt you in multiple ways is a dangerous combination for any defense tasked with trying to stop it. Add in the other offensive weapons like Donovan Edwards, Colston Loveland, and Semaj Morgan, and this Michigan offense could become one of the most productive in the conference.
– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –
Michigan players react to being picked to finish 4th in Big Ten
‘He’s going to be a force’: Kalel Mullings to make a big impact in 2024
Michigan Football: Makari Paige gives incredible answer about Ohio State
DETROIT – A major banking merger is reshaping the financial landscape in Michigan — and customers need to take action before the changes take effect.
Fifth Third Bank completed its acquisition of Comerica, and beginning Sept. 8, Comerica customers will transition onto Fifth Third’s systems. The switch affects everything from mobile banking to direct deposits.
What Comerica customers need to do
Steve Davis, regional market president for Michigan, said the transition is designed to be straightforward for most customers.
“For the most part, what our customers are going to need to do is on September 8th, they’re going to log in to the Fifth Third app or their website, create a new user ID, a new password, and they’re good to go,” Davis said. “Their debit card, their ATM, their direct deposit information, all their ACHs — that’s all going to transfer over for them.”
To help customers prepare, welcome packets will be mailed in August walking through every step of the process. The bank says it is also staffing up to handle an expected surge in questions.
“It’s an all hands on deck to make sure that we can exceed customer expectations,” Davis said.
Customers looking for additional information can visit Fifth Third’s Better Together page.
Branch closures, but more options overall
The $10.9 billion all-stock deal — finalized in October — comes with significant changes to the branch network. More than 70 locations are slated to close as part of the merger.
The bank says it is working to relocate affected employees or help them find other opportunities. And while the closures mark a loss for some communities, Davis says the combined network ultimately gives customers more options.
“If you’re in the tri-county of Southeast Michigan — like Livingston, Macomb, Wayne, etc., we’re going to be number one in terms of branches there,” Davis said. “In the City of Detroit, we’re going to be number one in terms of branches there, so for our customers on average it’s a much better thing than a worse thing.”
Will Comerica Park be renamed?
Perhaps no question has captured more public attention than the fate of Comerica Park — the downtown Detroit ballpark that is home to the Detroit Tigers.
Could it become Fifth Third Park? That answer isn’t ready yet.
“We’re evaluating everything — we’ll decide something in the offseason,” Davis said. “It’s really cool that people care so much about Comerica Park and what it’s meant to them.”
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Lansing — Republican candidates for governor and Democratic contenders for the U.S. Senate will square off in a series of televised debates this week, giving voters across Michigan their best chances yet to compare the political hopefuls.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Grand Rapids NBC affiliate WOOD-TV will host a televised statewide debate featuring the three Democrats running for the U.S. Senate: former Wayne County health official Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham.
Then, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, WJBK-TV (Fox 2 Detroit) will host a debate for the three Republican candidates for governor: former Attorney General Mike Cox of Livonia, U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township and businessman Perry Johnson of Bloomfield Hills. The next night, WOOD-TV, which has been using the phrase “debate week” to promote the upcoming events, will host another debate with the three GOP gubernatorial hopefuls at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The string of forums will provide voters a chance to hear from people who want to be the state’s future leaders, said David Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University.
“Any opportunity that voters have to hear directly from candidates in an unfiltered, uncontrolled, uncurated environment is good,” Dulio said.
The debates will come about four weeks before the Aug. 4 primary election, and many Michigan residents have absentee ballots available to them.
Michigan’s governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, can’t run again because of term limits. Meanwhile, the state has an open U.S. Senate seat because Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, decided against seeking reelection.
Many Democrats said they believe the race for their party’s nomination to replace Peters could be tight. If that’s the case, the televised debate on Tuesday could be important, said Adrian Hemond, CEO of the Lansing-based political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest.
“A marginal difference is a big difference in a close race,” Hemond said of the potential impact of the debate.
Who’s running to be Michigan’s governor?
The three remaining GOP candidates for governor, Cox, James and Johnson, are all expected to participate in the debates this week.
James has avoided most of the primary forums that have been organized. James ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 before winning in 2022 his U.S. House seat that represents a portion of Macomb County as well as Rochester and Rochester Hills.
President Donald Trump endorsed James to be Michigan’s next governor on June 22.
Johnson has dominated the TV airwaves this year, shelling out millions of dollars of his own money to promote his bid. He made his fortune developing quality controls for the auto industry. He is running on eliminating the state’s 4.25% personal income tax, which currently generates more than $13 billion in revenue annually.
Cox, who was Michigan’s attorney general from 2003 through 2010, has worked as a lawyer with The Mike Cox Law Firm.
The Democratic side has two candidates for governor: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson of Detroit, and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson of Fenton.
Benson is viewed as the favorite to be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in part because of her slew of endorsements, including that of the United Auto Workers union. She didn’t participate in a June 4 primary debate organized by Fox 2.
Who’s running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan?
Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary has gained the national spotlight as a test of how the party’s voters might be leaning after the 2024 presidential election.
El-Sayed, a progressive candidate who ran unsuccessfully for governor eight years ago, has said he wants to build an economy that works for working people, provide guaranteed health care coverage and protect clean air and water.
He’s often clashed with Stevens, who’s been a member of the U.S. House since 2018. Stevens has said she wants to focus on combating rising costs and protecting personal freedoms and entitlement programs like Social Security.
McMorrow was first elected to the state Senate in 2018. Her campaign website vows that she will root out corruption, protect rights and keep tax dollars working at home instead of funding wars.
The Republican nominee will be former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
How to watch the debates
The WOOD-TV debates on Tuesday and Thursday will be carried by CBS Detroit in the Detroit area, WBSF in the Flint area, WLAJ in the Lansing television market, WWTV in the Traverse City area, WJMN in the Marquette area and WBKB in the Alpena area.
The Wednesday night Fox 2 Detroit debate will be streamed on its website. The first 30 minutes of it will be televised on Fox 2 during The Pulse’s regular time slot, hosted by anchor Roop Raj, who is moderating the debate.
cmauger@detroitnews.com
Michigan
3 dead after vehicle collides with semitruck on Interstate 94 in Wayne County, Michigan State Police say
Three people are dead after a vehicle hit the back of a semitruck on Interstate 94 in Southeast Michigan late Friday, state officials said.
The Michigan State Police responded to the crash on eastbound I-94 near Michigan Avenue in Wayne County around 11:44 p.m. Investigators said the semitruck was stopped in traffic due to flooding when it was struck by the vehicle.
Three passengers in the vehicle that crashed into the semi died at the scene, according to the state law enforcement agency, and the driver was taken into custody.
The ages of the individuals involved in the collision have not yet been disclosed by officials.
As of Saturday afternoon, the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
-
Sports6 minutes ago‘It just feels right.’ Folarin Balogun can play in World Cup round of 16 after red card suspended
-
World14 minutes agoThousands gather in Tirana in major ‘Pink Flamingo’ protests
-
News39 minutes agoAt least 25 people die in US as record heatwave scorches swaths of country
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoHuntington Park announces street closures ahead of Mexico World Cup match
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoMallory McMorrow drops out of Michigan’s US Senate race
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoWaymo Vehicle Catches Fire in San Francisco
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas police and fire teams seize of nearly a ton of illegal fireworks
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoTriple shooting, crash sends adults to hospital, Miramar police say
