Keys to the Game: Michigan football vs. Fresno State

Michigan football is your national champion until January (at least), when the 2024 season comes to an end. The Wolverines hope to hold on to the crown, though it obviously won’t be easy given the losses sustained, especially at the quarterback position. 

RELATED: Staff Predictions: Michigan football vs. Fresno State

Unlike last season, the schedule isn’t one where there’s a lot of margin for error. Everyone, of course, is looking ahead to Texas and Week Two, but Fresno State has some players and is tougher than any of last year’s non-conference opponents. 

“They have a ton of starters returning,” defensive line coach Lou Esposito said. “They’ve got a ton of veteran leadership. Their quarterback makes it go, and he’s going to move around in that pocket enough where you have to keep him in there. They do a great job. They’re a good football team.

“I feel like their offensive line does a great job working together. They do a good job of passing stuff off in the pass game, and then in the run game, when they’re allowed to stay on double teams, they do a great job. Those are things that we’re going to have to combat with low pads.”

And they are coming to make some noise.

Here are keys to a Michigan win, including both sides of the ball.

Michigan Key No. 1: Protect the ball 

We suspect the Michigan game plan will be one in which portions of the fan base complain about “boring” play calling, a lot of running, etc. But asking a first-year starter at quarterback to win a football game — especially one with very few snaps to his credit, no matter who wins the job — would be ridiculous. Neither Alex Orji nor Davis Warren is J.J. McCarthy (or close) at this point, and the Michigan coaches weren’t exactly airing it out with the No. 10 overall NFL Draft pick last year, either. 

This is simple — until the quarterbacks get more experience, you keep it close to the vest and play to your strengths. That’s defense and special teams at this point, hopefully the run game with some play action and easier throws (we believe the offensive line is up to the task). 

Bottom line, though … don’t put the defense in bad situations.  

Key No. 2: Squeeze the pocket on defense

Quarterback Mikey Keene is capable, a UCF transfer who threw for 2.976 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago. The Bulldogs averaged 282 yards per game throwing a year ago, and that’s what they’ll want to do. 

But Keene isn’t big — only 5-11, 200 — and if they keep him in the pocket, it’s going to make it tough for him to throw downfield. As some noted last year, the Michigan defense was like a boa constrictor in collapsing pockets, and we expect this year’s to be the same.

“We’re going to have to keep him in the pocket,” Esposito said. “We’ll have to do some things to make sure that we put our best foot forward, let our personnel and our scheme help us in those situations because they’re a really good football team.”

Michigan Key No. 3: No overconfidence

We don’t suspect this will be a concern given the culture in the building. These guys have won championships, but they remain extremely hungry … especially those who contributed a bit but didn’t play a ton. They’ve gotten a taste of it, but they want more — they want to be big time contributors on another champion. 

There will be a lot of guys playing for the first time, and some of them are still fighting to solidify positions. Expect them to bring it Saturday night. If not, they could get a game.

The breakdown: Michigan football vs. Fresno State

As fun as the last three years were — and they were a blast — this season is going to be exciting, too, to see what’s been waiting in the wings. There is a lot of talent on this football team, especially on defense, and great defenses can carry teams a long way (just ask Kirk Ferentz at Iowa). 

It’s usually an embellishment to say “everything is on the quarterback,” but if there were ever a year that was true, this would be the one. We said in spring Michigan probably needed to go to the portal for a better option — no disrespect intended to Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, or Davis Warren — but a team this talented at just about every other position should be led by an outstanding quarterback. 

This is Michigan, fergodssake. 

The hope is that one of these guys will prove us wrong and dominate from the get-go. Yes, it’s important in the opener, but it would also provide a nice boost of confidence heading into a Sept. 7 game with Texas.