It’s been almost a month since we last saw the Michigan Wolverines take to the field and win the Big Ten Championship. After a long time, it’s time to turn our attention to the college football playoffs and Michigan’s game with the TCU Horned Frogs.
TCU went 12-1 with the Big 12 Championship’s only overtime loss at Kansas State. TCU is considered by many to be the weakest of the four college football playoff teams due to that loss and several close calls throughout the season. However, that doesn’t mean horned frogs lack talent. In fact, some of the best players in college football reside in their offense.
Let’s take a look at three guys who can make a difference for TCU.
QB Max Duggan
Duggan’s meteoric rise this season is the No. 1 reason this TCU team has come this far. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting after throwing for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also rushed for another 555 yards and six touchdowns.
Duggan has been one of the most successful players in college football this season. You can never count horned frogs because he just wants them back in games. He led TCU to three fourth-quarter wins or later this season. His performance in the Big 12 Championship clutch also nearly pushed TCU to a win. On the tying drive with less than two minutes left, he ran 95 yards on the four-minute offense. Despite penalties, a crucial fourth down and more, Duggan put the team on his shoulders and finished it with a rushing touchdown:
It was one of the most impressive displays of courage I have ever seen from the position of quarterback. While the Horned Frogs would lose over time, it shows his burning desire to win.
The Wolverines need to be aware of that. If they get a lead, they certainly can’t just get comfortable and start playing lazy against this team and this quarterback. Just like in the Big 12 Championship, Duggan will give it his all.
WR Quentin Johnston
One of the few things that has beaten the Michigan defense this season is 50/50 balls to big physical receivers. Going forward, the Wolverines will see plenty of that, and it starts with Quentin Johnston this weekend.
Johnston is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and is a deep-shooting nightmare for opposing defenses. He averages 17 yards per reception and has 53 catches for 903 yards this season. His plan is to climb up and round the corners to win big games:
TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston has what it takes to be a dominant pass catcher in the NFL.
He can make things happen at the point of capture, with the ball in his hands and winning at LOS.pic.twitter.com/cdV8lcRJN1
– Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) December 22, 2022
Unfortunately, some of those plays look suspiciously like times when Michigan’s defense was beaten deep this season. For the most part, the Wolverines’ coverage has been great, but guys like Johnston, who can make those contested takes, have been pretty awkward.
The TCU standout should be the best at his job on NFL Draft This spring and shows its legitimate speed with its large frame. I expect Michigan freshman cornerback Will Johnson to be in the cover after a strong performance against Marvin Harrison Jr. of ohio state. He did a great job against arguably the best wide in the country, so he’ll probably have to do the same against TCU if Michigan hopes to win.
RB Kendre Miller
Heisman-caliber quarterback, okay. Elite wide receiver, check. But a running back too?
Kendre Miller has kind of been overshadowed by Duggan and Johnston this season. In a different program, I think he would be as successful as Blake Corum. Seriously.
Miller has scored in every game this season, with 17 total touchdowns. In seven of those games, Miller ran for over 100 yards; He finished the season with 1,342 yards, good enough for 18th in college football.
What’s crazy is how few runs Miller has made it – 216 for the entire 2022 campaign, which is about 6.2 meters per run. It’s also in the top 20 in college football.
I think this game starts with Michigan slowing down the run. The no. 1 running defense in college football is going to have a very tough test against this TCU team. They’ll have to mind their own business and prove they deserve that status against one of the best running backs in college football.
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