The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Road Opener In October For Only The Ninth Time In 50 Years Michigan opens the season with five straight home games for only the fifth time since (and including) 1946 and won't leave Ann Arbor until facing Rutgers Oct. 8. The Wolverines have opened the road por- tion of the slate in October eight times in the last 50 years and split the games 4-4, with all four losses coming at Michigan State. Here's how they've fared in October road openers over the last half century: 1969: Michigan State 23, No. 13 Michigan 13 1974: No. 4 Michigan 27, Stanford 16 1976: No. 1 Michigan 38, Northwestern 7 1987: Michigan State 17, No. 12 Michigan 11 1993: Michigan State 17, No. 9 Michigan 7 1997: No. 6 Michigan 37, Indiana 0 2009: Michigan State 26, No. 22 Michigan 20 (OT) 2011: No. 12 Michigan 42, Northwestern 24 1. Nov. 26 at Ohio State — Many believe this will be the game that deter- mines the Big Ten champion and — very possibly — the conference's representa- tive in the national playoff. The Buckeyes handled the Wolverines in a Big House stunner last year, 42-13, but lose all but six starters, returning three on each side of the ball. One of them, though, is quarterback J.T. Barrett, the Big Ten's top returning signal-caller. The game is in Columbus, but Michigan should have the horses to compete — and win — against Urban Meyer's crew. 2. Oct. 29 at Michigan State — Only a fluke dropped punt returned for a touchdown on the last play of the game prevented Michigan from securing a win over the Spartans in Jim Harbaugh's first year as head coach last season, and the Wolverines should be favored to win in East Lansing this year. The Spartans must replace all of their offensive skill position players but one (running back Gerald Holmes), including NFL-bound quarterback Connor Cook, and will be extremely thin on the defensive line. Don't expect MSU to go quietly, however — U-M will need to play well to win at Spartan Stadium, where they've lost four straight. 3. Nov. 12 at Iowa — A night game in Iowa City usually means a backyard brawl, with the Hawkeyes 8-4 in prime-time home contests over the years, including a win over Michigan in 2009. Iowa is 6-1 in its last seven, as well, and returns 13 starters from a team that went 12-2 overall and 8-0 in Big Ten regular-season games last year. One of those 13 is quarterback C.J. Beathard, an All-Big Ten candidate and a gunslinger. 4. Oct. 1 vs. Wisconsin — Those who saw the Wisconsin spring game would acknowledge the Badgers might have an issue at quarterback, but this is still a team coming off a 10-win season and with 12 starters returning. They'll have to rely on some youngsters along the offensive line, but the pro - gram churns out linemen and is almost always one of the most physical teams in the Big Ten. Wisconsin must travel to MSU the week before its game at U-M. 5. Sept. 24 vs. Penn State — Penn State isn't the PSU of old, but the Nittany Lions still have talented running back Saquon Barkley and eight other starters returning on offense from last year's solid team. They'll need to find a quarterback and six new defensive starters, and it doesn't help that they get Michigan on the road. Michigan signed 28 players in the 2016 class, and several should see playing time starting Sept. 3 in the opener against Hawai'i or shortly thereafter. Here's the list of five rookies most likely to see the field this fall: 1. Defensive End Rashan Gary — The nation's No. 1 player nationally according to Rivals.com is a freak athlete and should provide pass rush help immediately, even on a team with a deep and talented line. His quick first step off the line is remi - niscent of former Wolverine David Bowens, who notched 12 sacks to set a team record in 1996. urs 2. Linebacker Devin Bush Jr. — Not the biggest linebacker Michigan has had at 6-0, 220 pounds, but Bush is a brick house nonetheless, and he proved he belonged during the spring. He'll be in the two-deep at inside linebacker and see plenty of playing time in his first year. 3. Cornerback David Long — Michigan has three corners who will undoubtedly play in upperclassmen Jourdan Lewis, Channing Stribling and Jeremy Clark, but it's wide open be - yond that. Long, a Los Angeles native, is the candidate to be the next outstanding corner to play as a true frosh, and he could also help on special teams. 4. Wide receiver Ahmir Mitchell — The lanky, 6-3 New Jersey native showed flashes of his ridiculous athletic ability during the spring, though he still fights the ball a bit. His early enrollment has helped him get a leg up on the other rookie receivers, and at least one of them should play. 5. Safety Khaleke Hudson — Head coach Jim Harbaugh loves Hudson's physical abilities, and the freshman could help at a position of need and on special teams. He was a hitter in high school ball. The last time U-M played under the lights in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes upended the Wolverines in 2009. PHOTO BY ERIC BRONSON Top Five Freshman Candidates To Play Even though U-M's defensive front is stacked, rookie end Rashan Gary has the talent to make an immedi- ate impact. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Top Five Games