2020 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2020 Michigan Wolverines football team will be an American football team that represents the University of Michigan during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolverines play in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference and play their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan is coached by Jim Harbaugh, who will be in his sixth season.
| 2020 Michigan Wolverines football | |
|---|---|
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| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| East Division | |
| Head coach | Jim Harbaugh (6th season) |
| Offensive coordinator | Josh Gattis (2nd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Don Brown (5th season) |
| Home stadium | Michigan Stadium (Capacity: 107,601) |
Uniform | |
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| 2020 Big Ten Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: December 5, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Offseason
Coaching changes
It was announced a day after the Citrus Bowl that safeties coach and special teams coordinator Chris Partridge accepted a co-defensive coordinator role at Ole Miss.[1]
Coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of all University of Michigan athletic activities during the spring of 2020, including the football team's annual spring practice.[2] The pandemic also led to cancellation of the team's international trip for the first time since 2016.[3] In late April, the university announced that it would offer a full refund to ticket holders if the college football season was canceled due to the pandemic.[4]
Recruiting
Michigan signed a total of 21 recruits in its 2020 recruiting class, including eight that enrolled early. According to the 247Sports Composite, the class was ranked 14th in the nation, and second in the Big Ten Conference.[5]
| US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
| Darion Green-Warren CB |
Harbor City, California | Narbonne High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | Jan 4, 2020 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Eamonn Dennis CB |
Worcester, MA | St John's | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | Jun 23, 2019 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Braiden McGregor DE |
Port Huron, Michigan | Port Huron Northern High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 248 lb (112 kg) | May 24, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Kris Jenkins DE |
Olney, Maryland | Good Counsel High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 239 lb (108 kg) | Jul 3, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| AJ Henning WR |
Frankfort, Illinois | Lincoln-Way East High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | Jun 26, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Blake Corum RB |
Laurel, Maryland | St Frances Academy | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | Jun 27, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Jordan Morant S |
Oradell, New Jersey | Bergen Catholic High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jun 23, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Kalel Mullings LB |
Boston, Massachusetts | Milton Academy | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Jun 27, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Makari Paige S |
Bloomfield, Michigan | West Bloomfield High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | Jul 30, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Andre Seldon CB |
Belleville, Michigan | Belleville High School | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 154 lb (70 kg) | Jun 20, 2018 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Roman Wilson WR |
Honolulu, Hawaii | St Louis HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jul 2, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Zak Zinter G |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Buckingham Browne & Nichols School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | May 16, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Dan Villari PRO |
Massapequa, New York | Plainedge High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Dec 19, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| RJ Moten S |
Delran, New Jersey | Delran High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jul 27, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Osman Savage LB |
Baltimore, Maryland | St Frances Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jan 25, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Jeffrey Persi OT |
San Juan Capistrano, California | J Serra Catholic | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | Jun 25, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Matthew Hibner TE |
Burke, Virginia | Lake Braddock High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Jun 9, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Jaylen Harrell WDE |
Tampa, Florida | Berkeley Prep | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Dec 11, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Nikhai Hill-Green LB |
Baltimore, Maryland | St Frances Academy | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | May 23, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Cornell Wheeler LB |
West Bloomfield, Michigan | West Bloomfield High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Sep 25, 2018 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Reece Atteberry C |
Aurora, Colorado | Eaglecrest High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | May 24, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| William Mohan ATH |
Brooklyn, New York | Erasmus Hall High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jun 23, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 10th 247Sports: 14th ESPN: 7th | ||||||
Sources:
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Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | TBA | at Washington* |
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| September 12 | TBA | Ball State* | |||
| September 19 | TBA | Arkansas State* |
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| September 26 | TBA | Wisconsin |
| ||
| October 3 | TBA | Penn State |
| ||
| October 10 | TBA | at Michigan State | |||
| October 17 | TBA | at Minnesota |
| ||
| October 24 | TBA | Purdue |
| ||
| November 7 | TBA | Maryland |
| ||
| November 14 | TBA | at Rutgers | |||
| November 21 | TBA | Indiana |
| ||
| November 28 | TBA | at Ohio State | |||
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Rankings
| Week | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| AP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CFP | Not released | Not released | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Radio
Radio coverage for all games will be broadcast statewide on The Michigan IMG Sports Network and on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The radio announcers are Jim Brandstatter with play-by-play, Dan Dierdorf with color commentary, and Doug Karsch with sideline reports.[6]
Game summaries
at Washington
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8–5 | September 5, 2020 | W, 38–21 |
To begin the season, Michigan will travel to Seattle, Washington to take on the Washington Huskies. The two teams last played each other in 2002 when Michigan defeated Washington 31–29 off of a Philip Brabbs 44 yard field goal as time expired.
Ball State
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2–0 | September 12, 2020 | W, 42–6 |
Following its opening game against Washington, Michigan will host the Ball State Cardinals in their home opener. The two teams had their only meeting against each other in 2006 which Michigan won 34–26.
Arkansas State
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First meeting | ||
After playing Ball State, Michigan will host the Arkansas State Red Wolves. This is the first ever meeting between the two teams.
Wisconsin
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 52–16–1 | September 26, 2020 | W, 30-24 |
After hosting Arkansas State, Michigan will host the Wisconsin Badgers in their Big Ten Conference opener. Last season, Michigan lost to Wisconsin 35–14.[7]
Penn State
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 14–10 | October 3, 2020 | L, 14-28 |
After facing Wisconsin, Michigan will host the Penn State Nittany Lions. Last season, Michigan lost to Penn State 21–28 in Penn State's annual White Out game.[8]
at Michigan State
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 72–36–5 | October 10, 2020 | W, 51-30 |
After hosting Penn State, Michigan will travel to East Lansing to face its in-state rival, the Michigan State Spartans, in the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Last season, Michigan defeated Michigan State 44–10.[9]
at Minnesota
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 76–25–3 | October 17, 2020 | W, 35-28 |
After facing in-state rival Michigan State, Michigan will travel to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the battle for the Little Brown Jug, The two teams last played each other in 2017 when Michigan defeated Minnesota 33–10.[10]
Purdue
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 46–14 | October 24, 2020 | W, 41-9 |
After its game against Minnesota, Michigan will host the Purdue Boilermakers in their homecoming game. The two teams last played each other in 2017 when Michigan defeated Purdue 28–10.[11]
Maryland
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8–1 | November 2, 2019 | W, 38–7 |
After facing Purdue and having its bye week, Michigan will host the Maryland Terrapins. Last season, Michigan defeated Maryland 38–7.[12]
at Rutgers
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 5–1 | September 28, 2019 | W, 52–0 |
After hosting Maryland, Michigan will travel to Piscataway, New Jersey to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Last season, Michigan defeated Rutgers in a blowout 52–0.[13]
Indiana
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 59–9 | November 23, 2019 | W, 39–14 |
Following its game against Rutgers, Michigan will host the Indiana Hoosiers in their final home game of the season. Last season, Michigan defeated Indiana 39–14.[14]
at Ohio State
|
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 58–51–6 | November 30, 2019 | L, 27–56 |
Following its home finale against Indiana, Michigan travel to Columbus, Ohio to face their arch-rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the 117th playing of The Game. Last season, Michigan lost to Ohio State 56–27.[15] Michigan last won against Ohio State in 2011, and has lost thirteen of the last fourteen games. The Game is one of the most storied rivalries in college football, between two top programs: either Michigan or Ohio State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in 51 of the last 52 games since 1968 (the lone exception was 1987, when Michigan came into game 7–3 and Ohio State 5–4–1).
Roster
| 2020 Michigan Wolverines football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 Projected Starters
OFFENSE:
- QB – Dylan McCaffrey – SR
- RB – Zach Charbonnet – SO
- FB – Ben Mason – SR
- WR1 – Ronnie Bell – JR
- WR2 – Nico Collins – SR
- TE – Nick Eubanks – SR
- RT – Jalen Mayfield – JR
- RG – Chuck Filiaga – SR
- C – Zach Carpenter – SO
- LG – Karsen Barnhart – SO
- LT – Ryan Hayes – JR
References
- Sang, Orion (January 2, 2020). "Michigan football loses top recruiter Chris Partridge to Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin". Detroit Free Press.
- Rainer Sabin (March 12, 2020). "Michigan suspends all athletic activities, spring football practice, due to coronavirus". Detroit Free Press.
- "Michigan football will not be taking spring international trip due to coronavirus concerns". USA Today. February 24, 2020.
- "University of Michigan will offer season ticket holders full refund if football season is canceled". Click on Detroit. April 16, 2020.
- "Michigan 2020 Football Commits". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- "The Michigan Wolverines Football Network". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- "Michigan Falls on Road at No. 13-Ranked Wisconsin". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 21, 2019. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- "Late Michigan Comeback Falls Short at No. 7 Penn State". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 19, 2019. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- "Wolverines Retain Paul Bunyan Trophy in Rout of MSU". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 16, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- "Higdon, Evans Power Football Past Minnesota to Keep Little Brown Jug". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 4, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- Ablauf, Dave; Shepard, Chad (September 23, 2017). "Defense, O'Korn Rally Football Past Purdue in Big Ten Opener". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- "Michigan Scores Early, Rolls to Big Win Over Maryland". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 2, 2019. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- "Wolverines Rebound With Dominant Victory Over Rutgers". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 28, 2019. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- "Patterson, Collins Key Michigan Aerial Attack in Road Victory at Indiana". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- "Wolverines Fall to No. 2 Ohio State in Regular-Season Finale". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 30, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.