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Michigan game vs. Fresno State: 3 keys to watch as Sherrone Moore era begins

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Michigan game vs. Fresno State: 3 keys to watch as Sherrone Moore era begins


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Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia looks ahead to Michigan football’s 2024 season opener against Fresno State on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

Next up for the Wolverines: Fresno State Bulldogs

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Matchup: No. 8 Michigan (15-0, national champions, in 2023) vs. Fresno State (9-4 in 2023).

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.

TV/radio: NBC, WXYT-FM (97.1)

Line: Wolverines by 21½.

Know the foe

For the second time in five years, Tim Skipper takes over for Jeff Tedford at the helm of the Bulldogs. Only this time, it’s permanent, with Tedford stepping aside for health resons. Fresno State last year was ranked during the season, and eyes another winning season in a deep Mountain West.

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Quarterback Mikey Keene threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions a season ago, connecting with top targets Jalen Moss (55 catches for 706 yards and six touchdowns), Mac Dalena (47 catches for 509 yards and three touchdowns) and Josiah Freeman (19 catches for 249 yards and one touchdown). In case that wasn’t enough movement through the air, Fresno State added a pair of 1,000-yard receivers from the FCS level in Idaho’s Chedon James (102 catches for 1,045 yards and eight touchdowns) and Missouri State All-American Raylen Sharpe (73 catches for 991 yards and seven touchdowns).

The Bulldogs should be able to run, too, as they return lead RB Malik Sherrod (876 yards, nine TDs) and backup Elijah Gilliam (397 yards, five TDs).

The Bulldogs are weaker on defense, but leading edge Devo Bridges returns, complemented by former top-five recruit Korey Foreman (class of 2023), who transferred in this offseason from USC. Linebacker Malachi Langley recorded a career-high 80 tackles last year, and defensive backs Cam Lockridge and Al’zillion Hamilton will need to pick up the slack with Carlton Johnson now in the NFL (Seahawks).

GIFTS FROM THE FOOTBALL GODS: How Michigan become home to best DT duo in the sport

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3 things to watch

Waiting on a quarterback: It will remain the No. 1 question surrounding the team until the Wolverines answer it, but the understanding is the job remains up for grabs between Alex Orji and Davis Warren. This is not 2023, when U-M had a weak nonconference schedule and a backloaded league slate. New coach Sherrone Moore’s team faces three 2023 bowl teams in the first four games, (including CFP semifinalist Texas). Time is of the essence.

Orji is 6 feet 3 and 235 pounds and ranked No. 13 The Athletic’s “freaks list,” but an area of concern is his ability to consistently operate the intermediate-to-deep pass game. Warren looked the best in public during April’s spring game, and has apparently been equally proficient during camp. He’s more mobile than he gets credit for, but his ceiling is lower than Orji’s, and he has previously only entered late in blowouts. If Warren wins the job, there will certainly be packages for Orji to get involved.

Sherrone’s style: There was no question about who Michigan’s next coach would be once Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL. We saw how Moore operated in four instances where he filled in for a suspended Harbaugh — notably at Penn State in November, with 32 consecutive runs to close out a top-10 road win, and another epic victory at home against Ohio State — and saw a man ready for the job. Now’s the time when it’s all put to the test. What does a Moore team look like? How much autonomy does he give to coordinators Kirk Campbell (offense) and Wink Martindale (defense)? How aggressive is Moore on offense, and how will he get players to overcome the target as defending champions? This will be the first glimpse at what the attitude of a Moore-led team looks like.

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ROAD TO GLORY: Making the case for and against Michigan returning to College Football Playoff

Retool vs. rebuild: In this new era of roster turnover, it’s Michigan’s turn to put its “next man up” mantra to the test. That leads to perhaps the overarching question: Is the next era of Wolverines ready? The entire title-winning offensive line has been replaced. Gio El-Hadi, Greg Crippen and Andrew Gentry have waited for years, and now we’ll see if they’re up to the task. At receiver, U-M replaces both starters. Tyler Morris has been said to be “the alpha” — he has one career touchdown — and Semaj Morgan was electric in spurts last year. The one lock on offense is tight end Colston Loveland.

The defense figures to be among the nation’s best, but replaces staff at every level and saw multiple starters move to the NFL. Can the players grasp Martindale’s twist on the Ravens-style scheme implemented under Mike Macdonald (2021) and Jesse Minter (2022-23)? Is Zeke Berry capable of replacing All-American Mike Sainristil at nickel back? The linebacking corps lost nine years of experience between Junior Colson and Michael Barrett and is now led by understudy Ernest Hausmann and Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham. The best news: The unit’s three best players return: preseason All-Americans DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant and CB Will Johnson.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Hail Yes!” your go-to Michigan Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] 

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Where to watch Michigan basketball vs. Illinois in Top 25 clash tonight

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Where to watch Michigan basketball vs. Illinois in Top 25 clash tonight


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The No. 8 Michigan Wolverines will host the No. 25 Illinois Fighting Illini for a Top 25 Big Ten matchup tonight.

Fans can catch the conference action exclusively on Peacock at 7 p.m. ET. Live sports plans start at $10.99 per month and include access to NBC’s live broadcast as well as hundreds of hit TV shows and movies.

The Wolverines are 14-2 overall, 5-1 against conference opponents and they’re also 9-0 at home so far this season. They’re riding a three-game winning streak, which includes an 86-60 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday. Olivia Olson had a team-high 21 points in the win, and Mila Holloway and Te’Yala Delfosse each added 18 points.

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The Fighting Illini are 14-3 and 4-2 in Big Ten play. They’re looking to build on the momentum from their 92-76 victory over Penn State on Sunday. Berry Wallace led the team with 28 points and eight rebounds in the win.

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

No. 8 Michigan (14-2) vs. No. 25 Illinois (14-3)

When: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, MI

Time: 7 p.m. ET

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Streaming: Peacock



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Southeast Michigan communities invoke snow emergency parking rules

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Southeast Michigan communities invoke snow emergency parking rules


If you normally use street parking for your vehicle, you may be asked or instructed to move it on Thursday. 

The reason is that several Metro Detroit communities have invoked snow emergency rules in response to the wintry mix of weather that started Wednesday afternoon and continued into Thursday morning. Some areas are reporting several inches of snow. 

A snow emergency in Michigan’s cities and villages is a local rule invoking street parking restrictions on designated roads and at designated times so that snowplows can clear the area. In some communities, tickets and fines are issued for violations. 

The following communities are among those that have issued snow emergency notices: 

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Belleville

The City of Belleville has declared a snow emergency until Saturday.

“All vehicles should be removed from City streets so that snow plows can clear the snow,” city officials said.

Dearborn

The City of Dearborn declared a snow emergency at 7 p.m. Wednesday. All vehicles are ordered off the city streets so that snowplows can work. Any vehicles that remained on the streets after 4 a.m. Thursday could face a ticket or be towed.

Additional details are on the city’s website.

Dearborn Heights 

Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun issued a snow emergency effective 7:30 p.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. Thursday. All vehicles are asked to be move from the streets, as street parking is prohibited during this time.  

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“Cars left on the street will be ticketed,” the mayor said. 

Flat Rock

The City of Flat Rock has declared a snow emergency, to remain in effect until 12 a.m. Friday.

“Please remove all vehicles from the street so that our Public Service crews can effectively plow and salt our streets,” the police department said.  

Novi 

The City of Novi asked residents Wednesday night to move any vehicles that are parked on the streets “so crews can plow curb to curb.” 

Pontiac 

Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness declared a snow emergency starting 8 p.m. Wednesday through 8 a.m. Sunday. Public work crews have been making the rounds to clear the streets. 

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A snow emergency in Pontiac includes no parking on downtown streets between 3 and 6 a.m. There also is no parking on any streets marked “snow emergency route,” and no parking on designated sides of streets on designated days. Updates are posted on the city’s website. 

Taylor

The city of Taylor invoked snow emergency procedures effective 8 a.m. Thursday.

An emergency alert sent by the city Wednesday night appears to have been broadcast throughout Wayne County, which means residents of other communities may have received it on their cell phones.


The above video originally aired Jan. 14.

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Michigan rules on killing coyotes change after months of pressure from hunters

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Michigan rules on killing coyotes change after months of pressure from hunters


LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s coyotes are back to year-round pressure from hunters and trappers after a major policy reversal by state game regulators.

The state Natural Resources Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday on a controversial measure to allow coyotes to be killed all year long, backtracking on a position the state had successfully defended in court. Hunting groups immediately praised the change.

“It empowers landowners, safeguards the wildlife, protects our agricultural community and upholds Michigan’s conservation legacy,” said Merle Jones of the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association.

Previously, Michigan game regulators had established a “quiet period” when coyotes could not be killed from mid-April to mid-July. That’s when coyote pups are vulnerable and not yet weaned from their mother’s milk.

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State officials had been motivated by concern that hunters would leave young coyotes orphaned, turning public perception against hunting more broadly. Hunting groups balked at that notion and sued the state to overturn the policy.

Hunting still an option in Michigan’s updated gray wolf plan if species de-listed again

Last June, an Ingham County judge ruled against the hunting groups; an appeal of the decision remains pending.

Since then, the NRC has faced months of calls from hunters to restore coyote hunting opportunities. That’s while animal rights activists urged commissioners to stay the course.

This week the commissioners responded to the pressure from hunters.

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Regulators didn’t fully restore year-round hunting and trapping of coyotes, though.

Instead, the NRC expanded “out-of-season” killing of overabundant coyotes or those causing interspecies conflicts on public and private lands, according to the approved state wildlife order.

A coyote hunting and trapping season will run from Oct. 15 through March 1. Then what regulators call a “management season” will cover the remainder of the year, when coyotes could only be killed on private property.

Cougar walks away from vehicle collision in the Upper Peninsula, DNR says

The new rules will take effect March 1 this year.

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The coyote regulation changes also drew opponents to this week’s meeting in Lansing.

Mitchell Nelson of Humane World for Animals nonprofit criticized the language of the wildlife order. He specifically complained that interspecies conflict isn’t defined, nor is a standard for what qualifies as an overabundance of coyotes.

“We don’t even have a current population count of coyotes, so with no accurate additional count of coyotes, no metrics for determining relative coyote abundance and distribution in an area, and no reporting requirement for the killing of coyotes, the concept of addressing overabundance is rendered completely meaningless,” Nelson told the commissioners during public comments.

“The bottom line is that increasing the random and indiscriminate killing of coyotes will not achieve any management objective,” Nelson said.

Game regulators also heard from a state scientist during their meeting.

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Commissioner John Walters asked the furbearer specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources whether it’s believed the change to coyote regulations would have any negative effect on the species population.

“We do not expect this proposed change to have a population level impact on coyotes,” said Cody Norton, DNR wildlife biologist.

Research has shown that more than 70% of coyotes in an area must be killed to reduce the population. As prolific breeders, the animals can recover their population within a year if only 60% are removed.

Rebecca Humphries, NRC chairperson, said the change is meant to address nuisance animals without altering the regular hunting and trapping season.

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“The whole concept is to try and keep the integrity of the hunting and trapping season when they’re used as a furbearer species for pelts, and then outside that give people essentially the ability to take the species whenever it’s causing problems for them,” Humphries told MLive.



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