It’s No.9 Michigan Wolverines vs the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, August 31, on NBC. The Wolverines look to start their national title defense strong against a challenging GO5 opponent.
Michigan vs Fresno State Matchup History & Quotes
The Wolverines and Bulldogs have never played each other in either program’s history, so this will be their first matchup.
Michigan right guard Giovanni El-Hadi had much to say about the new-look offensive line. “Building a whole identity. We have to withhold the standard; we don’t need five guys to play, we need 10. We all have to be on the same, we all have to be ready whenever our name is called … [offensive tackle] Myles [Hinton], he’s been thinking about a name for ourselves and he brought up ‘Invictus’. None of us knew what that meant and he told us a little bit about the world being unconquerable, unbeatable. I feel like that’s what we are.”
El-Hadi shows the fanbase they should be confident in the new personnel up-front. They’ve done the work this offseason to build on the legacy of the previous three years’ units and maintain their presence as one of the top offensive lines in the country.
Fresno State head coach Tim Skipper had this to say about coming to Ann Arbor. “I love hostile environments, to be honest with you,” he said. “That’s the magic of college football. You get [110,000] in the stadium. It’s loud, it’s rocking, you can’t hear. You want it to be as hard as it can possibly be.” Skipper seems to have his guys ready to compete in a competitive in the big house.
Key Players for Michigan
Preseason All-Americans Will Johnson and Mason Graham will look to establish a strong presence and lead one of the nation’s best defensive units. They’re supported by big-hitting linebacker Jaishawn Barham, a brick wall defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, star safety Makari Paige, and two strong edge defenders in Josiah Stewart and Derrick Moore. The Wolverine defense will aim to build off one of the best defenses in college football history.
The offense will have almost an entirely new look; and redshirt sophomore Alex Orji, a strong, physical, dual-threat quarterback with a rocket arm, will likely lead it. Orji will have big shoes to fill, but a dynamic runner will bring a new element of speed and physicality to the offense.
Star running back Donovan Edwards will look to rebound from a disappointing junior season – but as the lead back this year.
Meanwhile, Semaj Morgan will be significant alongside guys like Fred Moore and Tyler Morris in the expansive receiver room. However, the most important piece of the offense will be preseason All-American Coleston Loveland. Loveland will look to cement himself as a first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft.
Key Players for Fresno State
Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene was hurt at the end of last season, damaging the Bulldogs’ Mountain West championship campaign. However, he will look to build off a strong junior season.
Meanwhile, running back Malik Sherrod had nearly 1,000 yards while averaging 5.6 YPC last year. And wide receiver Jalen Moss hauled in 706 receiving yards. Both players will be critical for the Bulldogs if they want to compete at a high level this season.
Fresno State’s defense looks like the weaker unit of the two, as they struggled mightly in their spring game.
Defensive lineman Devo Bridges had 42 pressures last year and will look to lead this group. At the second level, linebacker Malachi Langley was the team’s top tackler the previous season looking to build off an impressive 2023 campaign. In the secondary, safety Dean Clark is one of the better safeties in the nation. He will provide a strong presence in the secondary for the Bulldogs. Fresno State will need to have these key players step up if they wish to be competitive versus Michigan.
Three Keys for Michigan
- Run the ball: Michigan’s 2023 national championship was built on being more physical than their opponents. That will still be a key for them this year. Edwards and the rest of the running back group will have to show their presence early and often if the Wolverines want to be successful in this game and this season.
- Make Mikey Keene uncomfortable: Michigan’s 2023 defense was so successful because its defensive line was able to rattle the opposing team’s quarterback. Keene is excellent, so Michigan cannot afford to let him get in a rhythm. Making him uncomfortable in the pocket will be critical for the Wolverines to ensure Keene cannot carve them through the air. If Keene can get comfortable in the pocket, the Wolverines could be in for a long night defensively.
- Protect Alex Orji: Orji got some playing time last year, but purely as a runner. This will be a critical dynamic for the offense, as a mobile QB can make an offense that much more dangerous. However, Orji doesn’t have extended experience as a pocket passer, so the offensive line needs to ensure their quarterback stays upright. Giving Orji the time he needs to process the defense, make good reads, and deliver strong and accurate throws will be necessary for the new starting quarterback. This game must allow Orji to build confidence for his next game versus a difficult Texas team.
