Michigan stunned the world of college football on Saturday by defeating their bitter rival Ohio State, who was ranked as the #2 team in the country. The Game was once again won in the trenches, an area the Wolverines have dominated since 2021 against Ohio State.

The Michigan defensive line erased the threat of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. The Michigan offensive line didn’t allow a sack against a potent OSU defensive line that featured 2025 Draft Prospects Jack Sawyer and J.T Tuimoloau on the bookends, and Tyleik Williams in the interior. The offensive line also did just enough in the run game to allow Kalel Mullings to run for over 100 yards.

https://x.com/CFBONFOX/status/1862951586432958945?s=09

The Wolverines rushing attack has given Ohio State nightmares throughout the four-game winning streak for Michigan. The Wolverines lost Donovan Edwards early in the game due to injuries, taking away their speedster in the backfield. Edwards was a weapon that could have attacked the perimeter and been a receiving threat for Michigan. After his departure from the game, it was up to Mullings to do the heavy lifting and continue to assert Michigan’s dominance on the ground against OSU. Although he didn’t put together the performance we’ve seen against Ohio State in 2021, 2022, and 2023 on the ground, I can confidently say that Mullings and Dominic Zvada were the two MVPs in Michigan’s 13-10 victory. Mullings had a touchdown and over 100 yards rushing, but his most important play was the one that set up Zvada’s game winning field goal.

If it weren’t for Mullings breaking tackles and escaping a play that was seemingly blown up by the Buckeyes’ defense, Michigan is looking at 4th & 6 outside of field goal range and would have been forced to put the game in the hands of Ohio State. This run by Mullings won the game for the Wolverines.

At the end of this season, Wolverine fans will have to wave goodbye to both Mullings and Edwards as they go pro in 2025. Mullings will almost certainly hear his name called at the NFL Draft in April. Edwards will either be a late round pick or an undrafted free agent. Both will be departing, having left their mark on the historic Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry. Edwards will be remembered for his brilliant performances in 2022 and 2023 against OSU, and Mullings will be remembered for his late game heroics against OSU in 2024.

With the NFL being in their near future, Michigan will have to create a new two-headed monster out of the backfield. Here is an early look at the potential running-back room for Michigan next season.

Transfer Portal targets:

it’s likely Michigan will target a running back with some experience from the transfer portal as the guys projected to be on their roster in 2025 are all young with limited experience at this level.

Louisiana-Monroe RB Ahmad Hardy

Ahmad Hardy had a brilliant freshman year at ULM as he finished with the 10th most rushing yards in the nation. Hardy rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran for over 100 yards in a game eight times and for over 200 twice. Hardy will be one of the most sought-after RB’s in the transfer portal and would be a huge addition for the Wolverines offense.

UCLA RB TJ Harden:

Bruins RB TJ Harden would be a great fit for the Wolverines. Like Mullings, Harden is a power-back standing at 6’2″ and weighing in at 240 pounds. Harden led UCLA with 505 rushing yards this season. In his three seasons there, Harden rushed for 1,658 yards and is also a threat through the air with over 50p receiving yards. He scored 14 touchdowns in that time, with nine of them coming in 2023 alone.

FAU RB CJ Campbell

Former Florida State and FAU running-back CJ Campbell is entering the transfer portal after a strong 2024 season. Campbell rushed for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 36 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns. The dual-threat RB would be a nice addition for Michigan.

Nebraska RB Greg Ervin Jr

Corn Huskers running-back Greg Ervin Jr. is entering the transfer portal after injuries have derailed his collegiate career in Nebraska. It would be a gamble to pursue Ervin because he’s struggled mightily to stay healthy. The reward might be a big one if it pays off, though, as the potential has always been there with Ervin. He enrolled with Nebraska in 2021 and will have one year of eligibility left.

Projected to be on the roster:

Although the Wolverines should target an experienced RB in the portal, they have some talented RB’s already on the roster.

Jordan Marshall:

4-star Jordan Marshall will play a big role in the Michigan offense next season. You know what they say, the best in Ohio play for Michigan. Marshall, an Ohio native, was named Mr. Ohio last year for his performance in High School. Him committing to Michigan was a big slap in the face for Ohio State.

Marshall has seen some limited work on kick returns this season but has a shot to take the top spot on the depth chart for Michigan at the running-back position in 2025.

Benjamin Hall Jr:

Hall might be the leading candidate for RB1 because he’s the most experienced back on the roster. Hall has played two seasons but has had limited opportunities in that time. Hall got 28 carries for 113 yards as well as four receptions for 12 yards.

Cole Cabana:

From an Ohio product to a Michigan product… RB Cole Cabana was a star for Dexter, Michigan’s high school team. When you put on the tape, you’ll probably see a lot of similarities to Christian McCafferey. I’m surprised Cabana hasn’t gotten more opportunities to play, but if given the chance in 2025, I think he’ll make a big impact.

Micah Kaapana:

2025 will be the first season in Maize & Blue for 3-star Micah Kaapana. With him coming out of high school and Michigan already having three good running-back’s on the roster with the potential to add another through the portal, I wouldn’t expect Kaapana to get much play time next season. He could, however, get a workload on special teams.

l