2020 Team Preview: Can Michigan Win The Big Ten East Championship?

It is something which frustrates Michigan football fans to no end: The Wolverines, in 10 seasons of Big Ten divisional play, have not yet been to the Big Ten Championship Game. Under the old setup of the Big Ten Legends and Leaders Divisions, or in the current setup of the Big Ten East and Big Ten West, the Wolverines have never won a division title. They have not been able to figure out Ohio State, but more than that, they haven’t been able to be strong enough in the Big Ten to win a single division championship. Can that change this year? Let’s find out.

Offseason Changes

The biggest change at Michigan is quarterback, where Shea Patterson left. Joe Milton and Dylan McCaffrey will battle to replace him. This quarterback competition is viewed as 50-50, so one should expect both Milton and McCaffrey to get some meaningful playing time unless one of the two men completely dominates the quarterback competition in camp and then plays brilliantly to start the season. If neither man is overwhelmingly strong, you might see a two-man rotation during the season.

Linebacker Khaleke Hudson is gone, arguably the biggest loss on Michigan’s defense. Younger linebackers will need to replace his production and impact.

The Wolverines Will Succeed If…

Milton or McCaffrey dazzles. It really is this simple with Michigan: The program has not had a great quarterback in a very long time. Even when the Wolverines made the Sugar Bowl in the 2011 season, their quarterback play was not great. It was decent but hardly spectacular. Michigan needs its quarterback to be a cornerstone player on their offense, and if that happens, the Wolverines can be great again. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis inherited Shea Patterson. Now he will get a quarterback he can mold into something special. If Gattis and his quarterbacks click, this could become a great team.

The Wolverines Will Fail If…

They can’t get faster on defense. Ohio State’s offense regularly embarrasses Michigan’s defense. The Buckeyes’ speed and athleticism have been way too much for the Wolverines’ defense the past few years. OSU has scored more than 55 points in each of the last two games against Michigan. That simply has to change. Ohio State has been a few notches better than the Wolverines. Michigan can be as motivated as it wants to be, but motivation means little if the other guy is bigger, faster and stronger. Ohio State is bigger, faster, and stronger. Michigan needs to show a lot more physical prowess.

Prediction

Michigan simply isn’t in Ohio State’s league. The Wolverines’ most realistic goal this season is to beat Penn State at home and finish second in the Big Ten East. Penn State has had a better defense and better overall speed than Michigan in most of the past three seasons. It just doesn’t seem logical to think Michigan is going to figure things out. This program will continue to struggle. Jim Harbaugh won’t be fired, but he will enter the 2021 season with Michigan fans still grumbling about his performance.

Prediction: 3rd In Big Ten East