97.1 The Ticket -- Michigan kicks off the 2019 season under the lights Saturday night with a visit from Middle Tennessee. Head coach Jim Harbaugh officially announced quarterback Shea Patterson will be the one to lead the Wolverines into the new campaign, but said he hopes to play two quarterbacks in the opener.
The announcement of Patterson as the team's starter comes as no surprise, as most believed he would be the man for the job when he announced he'd be back for a second season at Michigan in the spring. The Ole Miss transfer started all 13 games for the Wolverines a season ago, racking up 2,600 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes, with a 64.6 completion percentage.
Harbaugh says he hopes Dylan McCaffrey will be able to get some experience under his belt Saturday. The junior saw action in five games last fall, completing 8 of 15 passes for two touchdowns. He also racked up 99 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
"All options are open that way, in terms of that," Harbaugh said Monday. "Would like to definitely play both."
Michigan is looking to get over the hump and win its first Big Ten East Division title this season, with aspirations of getting to the College Football Playoff. Ranked No. 7 in the AP Preseason Poll, the Wolverines are looking to implement a revamped offense under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.
The offense has been taking shape throughout the summer and into the preseason, but it's still unclear who will be the Wolverines' starting running back -- an experienced Tru Wilson or the highly touted freshman Zach Charbonnet. Wilson put up 364 yards and a touchdown on 62 carries last season, while Charbonnet comes in as a top-five running back nationally in the 2019 freshman class.
What is clear is that offensive lineman Andrew Stueber will miss the entire season. Harbaugh announced Monday that the redshirt sophomore right tackle tore his ACL and will be out for the year. Stueber, who played in 10 games in 2018, starting two, suffered the injury earlier this month in practice. He'll likely be replaced by Jalen Mayfield.
The Wolverines kick off the season at the Big House Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
