Big Ten Program Reset, Part 1: Michigan and Indiana
Tracking the off-season changes for the Wolverines and Hoosiers and a preview of the road ahead
In the NIL/transfer portal era of college football, tracking rosters in the Big Ten (and in college football at large) is increasingly difficult. With the transfer window closing and the National Signing Day in the rearview, programs across the conference have the foundation for their respective 2023 campaigns laid. This series aims to compile a digestible recap for each program (two programs per article) to put each program’s status in perspective.
There is still a second portal window (May 1 through May 15) that will undoubtedly shake up more depth charts before the conference play starts. Until then, this series will operate as a brief roster tracker noting some of the biggest changes and additions to each Big Ten program following the conclusion of the 2022 season. We start in Ann Arbor with the defending Big Ten champs.
Michigan Wolverines Program Reset:
Jim Harbaugh again tested NFL waters and (despite a late push from Denver) decided to remain in Ann Arbor. Is this just the new normal we should expect to see every year? Despite the speculation, Harbaugh is staying put and pursuing a three-peat as conference champions.
Returning Roster:
As mentioned above, the most essential returning member of the 2022 squad is Harbaugh himself. Despite keeping Harbaugh on board, the Wolverines did experience some staff turbulence with the firing of Co-Offensive Coordinator Matt Weiss.
Alternatively, Michigan’s most notable departures are in the trenches. The Wolverines made this recent run, in part, by building quality defensive and offensive lines. DL Mazi Smith and Edge Mike Morris go pro on the defensive line while C Olu Oluwatimi and OT Ryan Hayes leave for the league on the offensive side. McCarthy will also lose some receiving options with WR Ronnie Bell and TE Luke Schoonmaker also heading to the NFL. Lastly, Michigan saw ten players depart via the transfer portal, including QB Cade McNamara and TE Erick All (both to Iowa), and WR Andrel Anthony (to Oklahoma).
As far as returning players are concerned, the Wolverines enter the off-season with multiple impact players returning to the team for 2023. Experience at the quarterback position is always valuable and J.J. McCarthy will once again be at the helm for the Maize and Blue. Perhaps more impactful is the return of RB Blake Corum, a Heisman candidate before he was injured late in the season. Receiving duo Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson also return to the offense, as does OG standout Zak Zinter. On defense, Michigan brings back impact players at each level of the defense, including DLs Kris Jenkins and Mason Graham, LB Junior Colson, CB Will Johnson, and S Rod Moore.
Recruiting Class:
As of February 1, 2023, Michigan’s recruiting ranking is:
On3: 3rd in the Big Ten, 19th overall
247: 3rd in the Big Ten, 18th overall
Rivals: 3rd in the Big Ten, 18th overall
Despite back-to-back conference titles and appearances in the College Football Playoff, the Wolverines did not crack the top 15 in recruiting and remain firmly behind Ohio State and Penn State. Why? Michigan is a college football blue-blood competing for national championships. Additions like 4-stars DL Enow Etta, CB Jyaire Hill, and OT Evan Link are all very nice pickups, but Michigan’s class as a whole leaves something to be desired. Snagging Nyckoles Harbor may have assuaged some of these concerns, but the dynamic athlete out of Washington D.C. opted for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks on Signing Day.
Perhaps Harbaugh’s return to Ann Arbor was conditioned on a boost to Michigan’s NIL pockets. Was his annual NFL gambit another poorly veiled attempted to garner more support? A bigger NIL bag could help propel Michigan into the top recruiting tier. Regardless, this class contains plenty of talent and is more than respectable - it just feels off given Michigan’s recent success. Ohio State and Penn State each secured eighteen commitments from 4-stars according to 247’s rankings (Ohio State also added one 5-star). Michigan only managed ten 4-stars and zero 5-stars. Harbaugh should be pulling borderline top 10 classes annually, and he isn’t.
Transfer Portal Additions:
Michigan may be behind the elite tier of Big Ten programs in recruiting out of high school, but Harbaugh made up ground in the portal. Overall, Michigan added seven transfers to date and many should be immediate contributors. Despite the aforementioned departures on the offensive line, Michigan added Myles Hinton and Drake Nugent from Stanford and LaDarius Henderson from Arizona State to bolster the offensive front. Michigan also snagged TE AJ Barner from Indiana (as you will see discussed below). On the defense, LB Ernest Hausmann (Nebraska) and Edge Josaiah Stewart (Coastal Carolina) are talented day one contributors.
2023 Forecast:
The Wolverines’ non-conference schedule has become a punchline, and for good reason. Michigan also hosts Ohio State in Ann Arbor for the final week of the regular season. That said, Michigan’s conference slate outside of the Buckeyes is not necessarily a cake walk. Harbaugh and Co. hit the road against Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Who knows what to expect from the Big Ten West in 2023, but it is worth noting Minnesota is a trophy game and the Huskers gave Michigan all they could handle the last time the two played in Lincoln.
Overall, Michigan is set up as the early favorite to win the Big Ten for a third time in as many years. McCarthy and Corum return in the offensive backfield and the additions in the transfer portal should come in and play significant snaps right away. This continuity is especially important given the transitions expected at rival programs in the Big Ten East.
2023 Schedule:
9/2: vs East Carolina
9/9: vs UNLV
9/16: vs Bowling Green
9/23: vs Rutgers
9/30: at Nebraska
10/7: at Minnesota
10/14: vs Indiana
10/21: at Michigan State
10/28: Bye
11/4: vs Purdue
11/11: at Penn State
11/18: at Maryland
11/25: vs Ohio State
Indiana Hoosiers Program Reset:
Since a surprise showing in the shortened 2020 season, Tom Allen’s tenure has spiraled at IU. The Hoosiers struggled throughout 2022, particularly on defense. No Big Ten team gave up more points than Indiana (407 points allowed) and the Hoosiers limped to a 4-8 finish, sixth in the Big Ten East.
Returning Roster:
Indiana leads the conference in departures via the transfer portal at 19 (according to On3). No transfer stings as much as Edge Dasan McCullough, who is off to Norman to play for Oklahoma. McCollough was the highest rated commit in Indiana’s history according to 247 and although his stat sheet was modest in 2023, McCollough was poised to be a difference-maker for Indiana’s defense had he decided to stay. His loss is not necessarily irreplaceable, but is nevertheless a tough break for the program. Additionally, TE AJ Barner and QB Jack Tuttle also both transferred to Michigan. Last off-season’s key addition QB Connor Bazelak hopped back in the portal after an unsuccessful 2022 campaign.
Outside the portal, the Hoosiers lose LB Cam Jones, CB Tiawan Mullen, and RB Shaun Shivers to the NFL. Overall, Indiana will have to rely on new contributors to get the program moving back in the right direction. One newcomer to IU’s staff, offensive line coach Bob Bostad, should help the Hoosiers in the trenches. Indiana also brings back RB Jaylin Lucas, an All-American returner who should have an expanded role offensively in 2023. Still, Indiana will need to find plenty of new production from if they want to improve from last season.
Recruiting Class:
As of February 1, 2023, Indiana’s recruiting ranking is:
On3: 14th in the Big Ten, 65th overall
247: 14th in the Big Ten, 67th overall
Rivals: 14th in the Big Ten, 67th overall
Obviously, last in the conference is not where Indiana wants to be. Indiana reeled in the 5th ranked class in the Big Ten last year and the 30th best class in the country according to 247, but whatever momentum Tom Allen had going for him seems lost now. Indiana adds just fifteen new recruits despite the massive exodus in the portal and none of those new players in from high school are above a 3-star rating.
Transfer Portal Additions:
Given the small recruiting class and number of transfers out of the program, IU hit the portal hard. The Hoosiers will welcome fifteen new transfers to the roster, including QB Tayven Jackson from Tennessee. A former 4-star recruit out of Greenwood, Indiana, Jackson returns to his home state with a chance to win the starting job and take the reigns of the Hoosier offense.
Returning QBs Dexter Williams II and Brendan Sorsby both saw limited game action last year and each will have a chance to earn the starting job, although Williams’ knee injury at the end of 2022 jeopardizes his availability for next season. Indiana returns their leading receiver WR Cam Camper but otherwise will need a lot of new production if the Hoosiers want to improve their record in 2023. Still, the Hoosiers have the 8th ranked transfer class and have some reason to believe the team can improve with an influx of new contributors including Edge Andre Carter (Western Michigan), DL Philip Blidi (Texas Tech), RB Christian Turner (Wake Forest), LB Joshua Rudolph (Austin Peay), and DL Marcus Burris (Texas A&M).
2023 Forecast:
IU’s season opener against Ohio State is, to put it simply, not ideal. Indiana will also play a neutral site non-conference game against former Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm and the Louisville Cardinals. It is worth noting Brohm went 4-1 against Indiana while leading the Boilermakers. Indiana also will play Michigan and Penn State on the road.
With USC and UCLA joining the conference in 2024, this will be the final season for the Big Ten East. Indiana fans should be thankful, as the division remains as fierce and difficult as ever at the top. Ultimately, Indiana’s expectation should not be a blow-for-blow battle with Michigan and Ohio State. Indiana will live or die against the middle tier of the conference. The Hoosiers draws Illinois and Wisconsin as West opponents in addition to Purdue. If Indiana can’t pick up a few wins against these opponents and Rutgers/Maryland in the East, Tom Allen might be coaching his last season for the Hoosiers. Allen’s buyout ($20 million after 2023) is a high hurdle if IU does decide to part ways. Neither of the buyouts for Big Ten coaches fired in 2022 (Scott Frost at $15 million and Paul Chryst at $11 million) were as big as Allen’s, but it is hard to say any job is safe in today’s landscape. However, given the staggering price to fire Allen, any sign of improvement may be enough to keep him in Bloomington for another season.
2023 Schedule:
9/2: vs Ohio State
9/9: vs Indiana State
9/16: vs Louisville* (at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN)
9/23: vs Akron
9/30: at Maryland
10/7: Bye
10/14: at Michigan
10/21: vs Rutgers
10/28: at Penn State
11/4: vs Wisconsin
11/11: at Illinois
11/18: vs Michigan State
11/25: at Purdue