Mark your calendars, Ohio State and Michigan fans; FOX is airing the programs’ spring games this year. The Buckeyes are entering a crucial year under head coach Ryan Day, as it’s seemingly national championship or bust. Meanwhile, the Wolverines are undergoing a regime change following their own title-winning campaign.
Players To Watch in Ohio State Spring Game on FOX
FOX Sports CFB and NFL Draft analyst Joel Klatt announced the news on Monday. Ohio State’s spring game will air first on Saturday, April 13, at Noon ET. The biggest storyline to follow is who will start under center. Kansas State transfer Will Howard didn’t join the fray to sit, but Devin Brown and Julian Sayin aren’t going down without a fight.
New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has all the tools at his disposal to turn the Buckeyes into an offensive juggernaut in 2024. Ole Miss’s Quinshon Judkins joins TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield, creating the best backfield in the country.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming have left the receiving corps, but Emeka Egbuka remains. He’s flanked by three former five-star recruits in Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. Safe to say, Brian Hartline will churn out another elite unit.
Former Ohio Bobcat Will Kacmarek will seemingly take the baton from Cade Stover at the TE position, hauling 42 passes for 507 yards and two scores over the last two years. LT Josh Simmons, LG Donovan Jackson, and C Seth McLaughlin are cemented along the offensive line, but the Buckeyes will need to figure out the right side before the season begins.
Defensively, DT Tyleik Williams, EDGEs Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, and DBs Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom, and Jordan Hancock return. Linebacker is the last position to watch for Ohio State, as they’ll trot out new starters. 6’4″ and 235-pound Sonny Styles could transition to the second level, providing a much-needed spark.
Players To Watch in Michigan Spring Game on FOX
Exactly one week after OSU’s spring game, Michigan will take the field live on FOX.
With Jim Harbaugh off to lead the Los Angeles Chargers, Sherrone Moore has rightfully taken his seat in the driver’s seat for the Wolverines. With numerous starters leaving via the NFL Draft and transfer portal, he has his work cut out for him.
Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji are the favorites for the starting QB role vacated by J.J. McCarthy, with Jayden Denegal, Davis Warren, and Jadyn Davis rounding out the competition. Even with Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson gone, Michigan still has Tyler Morris, Semaj Morgan, Fredrick Moore, and Karmello English in tow.
KEEP READING: Projecting the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff
However, their most concerning unit is the offensive line, as they will replace all five starters from last season. Of course, having a running back that can create for himself in Donovan Edwards and a tight end that can be a safety blanket while holding his own as a run blocker in Colston Loveland helps.
The defense may have to carry more of the load next season, and that shouldn’t be an issue. Wink Martindale will call the shots, with DT Mason Graham and CB Will Johnson leading the way. NT Kenneth Grant, LB Ernest Hausmann, EDGEs Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore, and DBs Makari Paige and Ja’Den McBurrows bolster a depth chart filled with untapped potential.
Michigan and Ohio State are the teams to beat in the Big Ten, and fans, analysts, and opposing programs will get their first live look at both in under a month.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!