Michigan Wolverines Football

Last season, Michigan made its debut in the College Football Playoff. It didn't end up being a great showing for the Wolverines, though, as they lost in lopsided fashion to Georgia in the Orange Bowl, a semifinal matchup.

That performance didn't stop the program's momentum, however.

On Dec. 31, No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU will meet in the Fiesta Bowl with a berth in the CFP National Championship Game on the line at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Here's everything else you need to know heading into this year's Fiesta Bowl.

Latest Fiesta Bowl Odds

Spread: Michigan -8

Over/Under: 58.5 points

Moneyline: Michigan -305 (bet $305 to win $100); TCU +255 (bet $100 to win $255)

Via DraftKings Sportsbook

Preview, Prediction

Georgia isn't the only team entering the College Football Playoff as an undefeated conference champion. Michigan has been just as impressive throughout the 2022 season.

The Wolverines are 13-0 heading into the Fiesta Bowl, and they've mostly dominated their opponents. They took down Ohio State in the regular-season finale to earn a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, where they then cruised to victory against Purdue.

However, Michigan will be without its star running back in the CFP. Junior Blake Corum is out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery.

But the Wolverines have had a suitable replacement in their past two games. Sophomore Donovan Edwards has rushed for 401 yards and three touchdowns in Michigan's past two victories.

Michigan will likely need to rely on Edwards in its matchup against TCU, which has had an impressive season in its own right.

The Horned Frogs won their first 12 games of the season, which set them up for a matchup against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game. They lost to the Wildcats 31-28 in overtime, but the CFP selection committee determined that TCU was still deserving of the No. 3 seed.

Senior quarterback Max Duggan, a four-year starter for the Horned Frogs, has passed for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions, which earned him a spot as one of the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

The Fiesta Bowl could be a significant step up for Duggan and the offense, though. Michigan's defense is allowing only 277.1 total yards per game, which is the third-fewest among all FBS teams.

The Wolverines may shut down the Horned Frogs at times. And with some of Michigan's players having previously experienced the CFP, it's in good shape to fare better than it did at the end of last season.

The Wolverines will run the ball well and play strong defense (as they so often do) and handily win the Fiesta Bowl. Then, they may have a rematch against Georgia awaiting them in the CFP National Championship Game.

Prediction: Michigan 34, TCU 17

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Michigan Wolverines' honorary football captain Dametrius "Meechie" Walker died on Friday after two years of treatment for osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, according to Josh VanDyke of MLive.com.

Walker, a 3-star defensive lineman in the Class of 2022, per 247Sports.com's Composite Rankings, and offers from several schools. He had wanted to play for the Wolverines collegiately but was forced to quit football in 2020, ahead of his senior year at Muskegon High School, because of his cancer diagnosis.

He eventually needed to have his left leg amputated to help stop the cancer from spreading.

Michigan learned of his story and invited him to a practice in August before this season, where he met with the team.

The Wolverines then made him an honorary captain and he came out on the field before a Sept. 24 matchup with Maryland, receiving an ovation from the crowd.

Following Michigan's 34-27 win, the team dedicated the win to him and later gave Walker the game ball following a 41-17 win over Penn State.

"It was just an instant bond there," head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters after the Maryland game regarding Walker. "Instant click with our team. The love that he gives out, you feel that and you want to give that. Our players, they've got big hearts."

With Michigan back in the College Football Playoff, there have been questions about head coach Jim Harbaugh's future with the team as NFL clubs could come knocking at his door this offseason.

However, Harbaugh shut down rumors of a potential departure from Michigan on Sunday, telling reporters that he would return to the Wolverines in 2023, via ESPN's Tom VanHaaren:

"That time of the year type of speculation, but I think no man knows the future. But I think that people that think we've done a good job and are pleased with the job that we've done here at Michigan, they're going to be very happy to learn that we will be back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023. And for those people that don't approve of the job we've done or would rather see somebody else coaching here, I think they'll be most likely disappointed to learn we'll be back coaching the Wolverines and in 2023."

Harbaugh's comments come after NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported that "multiple NFL teams have been doing background work recently" on the Michigan head coach.

Pelissero and Rapoport wrote:

"One NFL source plugged into the situation said they believe Harbaugh would consider a return to the NFL, and a source with another team that could be running a head-coaching search said they believe Harbaugh would discuss an opening if asked and weigh the right situation."

Harbaugh has been head coach of the Michigan Wolverines since 2015. In his eight years at the helm, he is 75-24 and has now led the team to back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff.

Last season, Michigan finished 12-2, falling to Georgia in the CFP semifinals. This year, the Wolverines are 13-0 and set to face the TCU Horned Frogs in the CFP semifinals on Dec. 31.

Harbaugh's college success isn't the only reason why he's drawing interest from NFL teams. He previously coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, going 44-19-1 and leading the team to the NFC Championship Game three times and an appearance in the Super Bowl.

The 58-year-old flirted with an NFL return after the 2021 season, interviewing for the Minnesota Vikings' head coaching vacancy, though they never offered him the job instead hiring Kevin O'Connell.

Harbaugh is under contract with Michigan through 2026 after agreeing to a five-year, $36.7 million contract with the Wolverines in February.

It seemed like Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh might leave for the NFL last offseason until he didn't.

Perhaps he will this offseason.

Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported "multiple NFL teams have been doing background work" on the Wolverines' leader, who just guided his team to a second straight Big Ten title.

One source suggested he would at least "consider" rejoining the NFL, while another said he would "discuss an opening if asked and weigh the right situation."

That NFL teams would be interested in Harbaugh comes as no surprise.

He went 44-19-1 from 2011 through 2014 with the San Francisco 49ers, leading them to three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance during that tenure. While they fell just short in Super Bowl XLVII against his brother John and the Baltimore Ravens, it was an impressive stretch of coaching.

That has largely continued at Michigan with a 74-24 record and five double-digit win seasons in eight years.

While he didn't beat Ohio State in his first six seasons and seemed to be establishing a trend of just falling short of the team's ultimate goals, he has turned things around of late with two straight victories in the rivalry matchup and two consecutive conference crowns.

The Wolverines are also headed to the College Football Playoff for a second straight year.

Rapoport and Pelissero noted that despite the success, he may have left for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching last offseason if it was ever officially offered. He interviewed with the NFC North team virtually and again in person for nine hours, although Kevin O'Connell landed the position.

Harbaugh notably told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press in February the NFL rumors wouldn't be a constant thing for the rest of his tenure.

"Sure, the Super Bowl is the greatest prize in our sport," he said. "But winning a national championship. That's pretty darn great. Let's do that.

"There was a pull to the NFL because I got that close to the Super Bowl, but this was the time (to try and return.) And this is the last time. Now let's go chase college football’s greatest prize."

Michigan is two wins away from that prize, but the NFL may still be calling. Rapoport pointed out his former team, the Indianapolis Colts, is one of those squads with a coaching opening as the offseason approaches.

Perhaps Harbaugh's pursuit of a Super Bowl title isn't over just yet.

Former Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara is transferring to Iowa, with a formal announcement expected soon, per ESPN's Pete Thamel.

McNamara entered the transfer portal on Monday as a graduate transfer.

McNamara was a 4-star prospect in the 2019 class and ranked 268th nationally, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He originally committed to Notre Dame before flipping to Michigan.

The Nevada native didn't play at all in 2019, sitting behind starter Shea Patterson. However, he appeared in four games during the 2020 campaign, replacing Joe Milton III before being named Michigan's starter for the 2021 season.

In 14 games in 2021, McNamara completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also rushed for 37 yards and one score. The Wolverines went on to win the Big Ten and earn a berth in the College Football Playoff.

McNamara lost his starting job in 2022 following a quarterback battle with J.J. McCarthy.

McNamara started the first game of the season against Colorado State, completing 9-of-18 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown. McCarthy started the second game against Hawai'i, completing 11-of-12 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns to win the starting job.

The 22-year-old appeared in the win against Hawai'i and the following week's win over UConn, but he suffered a knee injury in that game and underwent surgery before being ruled out for the season.

McNamara can play at Iowa for two seasons. He redshirted as a freshman, and the NCAA gave any athlete from the 2020-21 campaign an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the season.

Iowa finished the 2022 regular season with a 7-5 record, sitting third in the Big Ten West behind Purdue and Illinois. The Hawkeyes currently have Spencer Petras, Joey Labas and Carson May as the quarterbacks on their roster.

The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines' quest for a national championship will reportedly continue without star running back Blake Corum.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Corum is expected to have knee surgery that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

The junior running back suffered the injury during a 19-17 win over Illinois two weeks ago. While he tried to play on his injured knee last week against the rival Ohio State, he was limited to only two carries for six yards and saw no action after the first quarter.

Corum was highly effective last season as Michigan won the Big Ten title and reached the College Football Playoff, but he reached a new level in 2022. The Virginia native rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns on 247 carries and caught 11 passes for 80 yards and a score.

Even if Corum doesn't play another game this season, he may still receive an invite to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Losing a player of Corum's caliber would crush most teams, but head coach Jim Harbaugh is lucky to have another top-flight running back on his 12-0 Wolverines squad.

Sophomore Donovan Edwards is second on the team this season with 687 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He has also caught 16 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Corum was Michigan's bell-cow back, whereas Edwards is the change-of-pace back who makes some huge plays and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

With Corum basically unable to play against OSU, Edwards took over as the No. 1 back and dominated to the tune of 216 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Both touchdowns came in the fourth quarter and they were from 75 and 85 yards out, putting a bow on a 45-23 road win.

That victory clinched Michigan a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game against Purdue on Saturday. It looks like Edwards will be the Wolverines' go-to guy on offense in that game.

Regardless of whether they win or lose to Purdue, the Wolverines are likely also ticketed for the CFP. They're currently in line to face No. 3 TCU in the semifinals.

Being without Corum could adversely impact Michigan's attempt to win its first national title since 1997. But if Edwards continues to play at his current level, the Wolverines are still a top contender.

Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith was charged Wednesday with carrying a concealed weapon, a felony, in connection with an alleged incident in October, according to ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

The University of Michigan didn't provide a comment when questioned by VanHaaren.

Smith has appeared in every game for the Wolverines this season, posting 43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.

Michigan named the senior one of its co-captains heading into the season.

Through his exploits on the field, Smith was putting himself in a position to get selected in the 2023 NFL draft. He's the No. 72 overall player and No. 10 defensive lineman on Bleacher Report's big board.

It's unclear how the charge might impact Smith's status for the rest of the season. The second-ranked Wolverines play Purdue in the Big Ten championship on Saturday, and a win will seal them a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Michigan took a big step toward clinching a second straight College Football Playoff berth with a 45-23 win over Ohio State on Saturday.

At +250 (bet $100 to win $250), the Wolverines are now the second betting favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the national championship behind Georgia. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, are tied for the fifth-best odds with Alabama.

The newest installment in Michigan and Ohio State's legendary rivalry was likely a CFP eliminator. The Buckeyes could still reach the semifinals but need some combination of TCU, USC and perhaps even LSU to lose in Week 13.

From the other side, this result cemented why the Wolverines are not only the biggest threat to Georgia, but also perhaps good enough to dethrone the reigning national champions.

The quarterback combination of J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara clearly wasn't good enough in last year's Orange Bowl. The pair combined to finish 18-of-36 for 237 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Now that he had a full season as the backup under his belt, the hope was that McCarthy could raise the offense's ceiling as the starter ahead of McNamara. Saturday represented those hopes becoming a reality.

The sophomore signal-caller threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio State, beating the Buckeyes deep on multiple occasions.

Especially if Blake Corum can shake off his knee injury once bowl season is around, Michigan will have an offensive balance it lacked in 2021.

Were the Wolverines and Bulldogs to meet for a second year in a row, the latter would almost certainly be the favorites. But Jim Harbaugh's squad has made positive strides in 2022 and at the very least made a convincing case to be the No. 2 playoff seed.