Michigan Friday: Transfer Portal Updates and the CFP

The more I watch the CFP the angrier I get about Michigan's situation this year.  If the Wolverines had a functional QB from the portal they would've been in the mix.   There is not one team in this year's playoff that Michigan could not have beaten with a functional QB.   I know that sounds like the most "homer" statement ever (which it is), but it's also accurate.  Hell, half those teams don't want to play the Michigan team that showed up at the former Outback this week. 

• ND lost to a bad MAC team at home.  A bad MAC team.  
• PSU got manhandled by Ohio State and Oregon
• OSU, well we all know what happened there
• Texas has been inconsistent all year.  Even though they did embarrass the Wolverines at home.

I think Michigan has a case against everyone but probably Texas.  Who proved they were better.  

Again the caveat is, Michigan has a competent QB.   

I know it's water under the bridge and we must move on.

Side note, great job seeding the tournament Warde.  Your final four is: 7 vs. 6 seeds and 8 vs 5.

• I know I'm in the minority on this but I think Round 1 should be played indoors or at warmer location. 
• The byes hurt the lower seeds as each team lost and were clearly rusty.  
• Penn State's path to the semifinal is laughable.  Beating SMU and Boise is a decent non-conference schedule. 
• I just hope we see some good football played in a week.  These games have been hard to watch. 

Transfer portal updates:

• There has been a bit of concern that Bama RB transfer Justice Haynes has not been offically signed.  Word is, it was an administrative thing (not admissions) and he is expected to be signed and in Ann Arbor very soon. 

• Seems there is Buzz around UConn WR Bell becoming a Wolverine.   I watched him in the a bowl game and he looks solid. 

• Yale WR David Pantelis is visiting Ann Arbor this weekend.  He had 69 catches for 1018 yards and 11 TD's last season.  Too bad, Danny Wolf is in LA playing USC this weekend. 

• There is some buzz that Michigan is also talking with Clemson WR Troy Stellato. 

• UNLV CB Tony Grimes is off the table for Michigan as he committed to Purdue.  Michigan maybe in on Pitt CB Ryland Gandy.

• Michigan Freshman DE Owen Wafle has entered the portal.  Word is, he didn't think the Michigan DL Coaches were Wafle makers.  😀

• Michigan backup DB Kody Jones also entered the portal on Thursday. 

• Michigan Team Captain and long time Michigan Safety, Makari Paige announced he is heading to the NFL Draft.  Good Luck to him! 

The Original Michigan Monday: Game Week

I'm getting a bit concerned with all the COVID Bowl cancelations.  I don't like that Michigan traveled to Miami so early (on Saturday) and the trend of cancellations is concerning.   I'm sure the team is taking all the proper precautions, but The University of Miami just pulled out of their bowl.   

Early Look at Georgia:

Passing Yards Per:  247.9 (55th)

Rushing Yards Per: 194.9 (31st)

Points Scored Per Game: 39.4 (25th)

Points Given Up Per Game: 9.5 (1)

Michigan will have to make sure Georgia's offense does not go off, as this game does not set up as a shootout.   Michigan does have some success against very good defensives this year including (total defensive rankings) #6 Wisconsin and #7 Penn State.  

Couple of interesting news and notes over the holiday, minus the cancelation news:

• Michigan visitor prior to signing day ASU RB DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum announced he was transferring to Ohio State.   The plan was for Chip to fill the Haskins role next year as a power back.  He is from Akron and picked his hometown team.  Word is, he is transferring to Ohio State as a LB, which is a bit strange.  

• Nico Collins got his first NFL TD on Sunday

• OSU returned 7,000 tickets to the Rose Bowl 

• With the above news on Chip, Michigan has offered 3-star Dallas RB Andrew Paul in the 2022 class.  It seems his final schools are Michigan, Colorado, and MSU.  His other offers include Auburn, Wash. State, SMU, Mizzu, CAL, TCU, and Houston.  (No word if Andrew Paul enjoys boxing or social media 😀)

Michigan Monday: Still Smiling

How about the last two weekends?  Feels pretty good.   I had a weird thought on Saturday, Michigan had to cancel two final games to close out the 2020 season those 2 teams: Ohio State and Iowa.  

The non-original CFP committee really went out on a limb and made Alabama #1 which gives Michigan a match-up against Georgia in the Orange Bowl.   To me this game is just the frosting on the cake, I'm super satisfied with the Big Ten Championship.   Does this mean I want Michigan to lay down to the Bulldogs? Absolutely not, I'm just happy this team is playing with house money from here on out.  

We are 9 days away from the early signing day period and the Michigan coaches are on the road to try to ride this momentum and close the class strong.  

• Michigan got a very big commit on Friday and which you have already heard.  Zeke Berry is now a Wolverine.   This guy is legit and will be a difference maker in Michigan's secondary.   Zeke was committed to Don Brown and Arizona early and then opened up his recruitment.  He is a 4-star Safety from De La Salle in California.  He is 6'0 and 195 pounds and ranks the 64th player in the country to 24/7 rankings.  He has offers from all the top PAC 12 teams including USC, UCLA, Wash, Oregon, and more.   Michigan didn't make Domani's final list but this is an elite DB class.  Welcome Zeke! 

• Michigan Basketball also got back to its winning ways with a home win over San Deigo State.  

• Miami's AD and Coaching search seems to be a huge cluster F.  They haven't even fired Manny yet. 

• Oklahoma makes a good decision on hiring Venables 

• Joe Brady gets fired by the Carolina Panthers.   He will have a ton of OC opportunities in college.

• Joe Moorehead gets the Akron job.  Would he be a replacement candidate for Mario if he goes to Miami?

• Big Ten QB's Adrian Martinez and Michael Penix are in the transfer portal

• Ohio State's a year early enrolled QB Quin Ewers (the top-rated player in the 2023 class before he reclassified) is transferring to a Texas school.  He is leaving with over $1M of NIL in his pocket.  The move even surprised Ryan Day.  Quin was OSU highest rated recruit ever.  Quin has already done a visit to Texas Tech.  

• Purdue will be losing David Bell and George Karlaftis to the NFL next season.  Thier participation in the bowl game is TBD. 

• I need to look closer at the bowls, but nothing jumped out at me.  MSU vs. Pitt is an MSU legacy match-up, Oregon vs. Oklahoma may or may not have head coaches, Baylor and Ole Miss is interesting.