Michigan
Michigan Football: Three big questions ahead of Big Ten Media Days
With Big Ten Media Days set to kick off this week, the reigning national champions are almost being viewed as an underdog ahead of the new season. Given all of the significant losses during the off-season on both the coaching staff and the roster, the overwhelming belief is that the Wolverines won’t be able to repeat the success from last year’s National Championship run.
Although some of the doubt is valid, the reality is that Michigan returns more than enough talent to once again be squarely in the championship hunt. The defense is expected to be one of the best in the nation, and the offense has plenty of firepower to pose a significant problem for any opposing defense. But even with all of the things working in Michigan’s favor, there are still some big questions that will need to be answered at key positions.
Here are the three biggest questions surrounding Michigan heading into Big Ten Media Days:
The Quarterback
This has become the biggest topic of conversation among Michigan fans as the 2024 season draws near. Although five guys are technically in the running for that starting spot, it seems like the battle heading into fall camp is primarily between three guys – Alex Orji (junior), Davis Warren (senior), and Jack Tuttle (graduate student). The last time there was a quarterback battle in Ann Arbor, former U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh opted to take that battle into the first two weeks of the season. Will Sherrone Moore take a page out of Harbaugh’s book and allow the battle to carry over into the season, or does he plan to name a starter during fall camp?
The Offensive Line
The majority of the starting spots on the offensive line appear to be set. Myles Hinton (LT), Josh Priebe (G), Greg Crippen (C) and Giovanni El-Hadi (G) are all expected to assume starting roles up front this fall. As of now, the biggest question mark surrounding the offensive line heading into fall camp is at right tackle. The general belief is that the battle for that spot is between Andrew Gentry (junior) and Jeffrey Persi (graduate student), two guys who appeared in 13 combined games on the offensive line in 2023.
The Cornerback
Michigan found success in the transfer portal last year by bringing in cornerback Josh Wallace from UMass. Wallace ended up making 11 starts during the 2023 season and proved to be exactly what Michigan needed for that spot opposite Will Johnson. With Wallace now off to the NFL, the Wolverines are once again looking for a starting cornerback opposite of Johnson. Just like last season, Michigan went into the portal during the off-season to supplement the secondary. And just like last season, it looks like they may have found their answer in Amir Hall. The former FCS All-American plays a physical brand of football, loves to make the big hit, and his ball skills are borderline elite.
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Dusty May is leaving Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks. What now?
Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia breaks down the “shocking” news of Michigan basketball coach Dusty May leaving for the NBA.
At the University of Michigan’s board of regents meeting on Thursday, June 25, interim president Domenico Grasso addressed the departure of former Michigan basketball coach Dusty May, calling the move a “bellwether” for college athletics.
May, who had reportedly agreed in principle to a contract extension with the Wolverines but had yet to sign it, left the program on Monday, June 22. One day later, he was in Brooklyn for the NBA Draft where his Dallas Mavericks selected his former player, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., with the No. 9 overall pick.
“Our current system is in dire need of clarity and equitable reform,” Grasso said at the regents meeting. “Coach May told me that among his reasons for leaving were uncertainties and pressures involving the transfer portal and NIL support for student-athletes.
“He and I agree that the future of college sports is headed in the wrong direction.”
While Grasso did say the new “Protect College Sports Act” could provide “greater stability, clearer national standards and more consistent rules” to college athletics, he also said it has “deeply concerning provisions.”
“Rather than looking to conferences such as the Big Ten as models of athletic and academic excellence, it imposes restrictions that disproportionately affect the institution,” he said. “Among the most troubling provisions are targeted limits on conference expansion and realignment, as well as harmful restrictions on student athletes’ ability to benefit from additional NIL opportunities. These measures will reduce universities and conferences’ flexibility to adapt to changing conditions for student innovative opportunities.
“We want what’s best for the Big Ten and for Michigan. We are not going to sacrifice competitive advantage that we built for more than a century. We stand ready to work with legislators on a bill that will establish a system in which every university can compete and thrive for generations to come.”
May spent just two years in Ann Arbor but made a lasting mark on the program. He went 64-13 during his time, won the 2024-25 Big Ten Tournament championship, the 2025-26 Big Ten championship and finished his time in Ann Arbor defeating UConn, 69-63, to win the national championship on Monday, April 6.
“When my family and I came to Ann Arbor two years ago, we hoped we could help bring Michigan basketball back to where it belongs,” May said in a goodbye statement to U-M. “This wasn’t an easy decision. An opportunity came along that was right for my family and something I felt I needed to pursue, but that doesn’t change how much these last two years have meant to us.
“Thank you for trusting us, believing in us and making these last two years so much fun. It was an honor to coach at Michigan and wear the Block M.”
On Tuesday, June 23, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel officially announced assistant basketball coach Mike Boynton Jr. would be appointed as interim head coach.
That set a clock for the transfer portal to open for U-M players on Friday, July 24, 31 days after Boynton’s appointment as interim.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
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