The Michigan Wolverines have one of the most grueling schedules in 2024! And nothing will be easy for Sherrone Moore, who replaces Jim Harbaugh with no prior head coaching experience. Besides the pressure of being the first Black coach in Michigan history with the offseason defined by losses, Moore will have to find more room for hope and confidence as they view their upcoming season. 

The Wolverines boasted a pristine 15-0 record last season as the National Champions. The thriving program has three straight Big Ten titles and CFP appearances. However, that was under Harbaugh’s leadership when elite players like J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum played for them. To take things on a more challenging note, Moore faces a true hurdle in the upcoming season.

On July 22, elitecollegefootball posted the plight of Michigan on Instagram with a series of photos that explained why “Michigan has a BRUTAL schedule this upcoming season.” If you’re wondering why people are making such a big deal out of it, “they have to play 3 of the BEST teams in the country, including Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas.”

The teams mentioned are three of the top five on the schedule this season. The Wolverines will meet No. 4 Texas in Week 2 on September 7, followed by a game against No. 3 Oregon in Week 9. For these two games, they’ll have the upper hand in hosting the game in Ann Arbor at their home field at Michigan Stadium. As for No. 2 Ohio State, whom they’ve beaten three times in a row, they’ll be their final opponent for the 2024 regular season, with the game scheduled to take place in Columbus at Ohio Stadium. Are the Wolverines prepared to take on this challenge? 

Michigan’s preparedness for the 2024 season

The departure of Harbaugh to the NFL caused a pandemonium among the Wolverines. They lost 22 players this offseason while welcoming eight transfers into the program, including some valuable talents like LB Jaishawn Barham and LG Josh Priebe. However, one of the biggest offseason wins for Moore was his ability to retain some of the existing talents like RB Donovan Edwards and CB Will Johnson, who were part of the national championship lineup. 

Regarding the coaching staff, Sherrone Moore is a capable head coach, ranking No. 10 in the Big Ten. OC Kirk Campbell and DC Wink Martindale also ranked No. 13 and No. 6 in the conference, respectively. Will the reigning national champion overcome this demanding schedule and shine under a different roster and a new head coach this year? Everyone is going to be keeping a close watch.