Episode Notes: CFB 27 First Look! / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 258

Hosts: John D'Adamo & TJ Ronin Show: Michigan Wolverines LIVE (MichiganVOCFB) Focus: 2026 Michigan Football roster position group grades, basketball roster retention after Dusty May’s departure, and first impressions of College Football 27 (EA Sports).

The duo opens with banter, sponsorship shoutouts (FanDuel, Freedom Services EPC), and encouragement for call-ins/debates. The bulk of the episode grades Michigan’s 2026 position groups ahead of fall camp, discusses basketball continuity under interim HC Mike Boyden, and shares early CFB 27 gameplay thoughts from the EA Play trial. Tone is optimistic on talent but realistic about unknowns in new schemes.

Grades reflect current talent + upside, with the caveat that fall camp/practices could shift things:

• QB: B — Bryce Underwood leads; strong supporting cast (Tommy Carr, Braden Fowler-Nicolosi) but needs to prove it in a more stable system.
• WR: A — Loaded room with Andrew Marsh, J.J. Buchanan, Colston (Celeste) Simoa, Travis Johnson, etc. Big upgrade from prior year.
• RB: A+ — Elite duo of Jordan Marshall + Savion Hyder (former #1 overall); depth behind them. Expected to be a top-10 unit.
• TE: C / C- — Hogan Hansen (injury concerns), Zach Marshall, Deacon Tonelli. Lacks a proven standout like past years.
• OL: B / B+ — Talented but unproven starters/lineup questions (Babalola, Malachi Lee, Andrew Sprague, Jake Garnier, etc.). Strong coach helps.
• DL (Interior): B — Trey Pierce, Jonah La’ulu, etc. High potential with size/weight gains; unproven.
• DE/Edge: C- — Hinges heavily on John Henry Daly’s health; intriguing pieces but many question marks.
• Safety: B- to A — Rod Moore (health-dependent) + Chris Bracey expected to be strong; depth noted.
• CB: A- — J. Hill, Zeke Berry, Smith Snowden, strong depth (Earls, Edmond, etc.).
• LB: C / D- — Wait-and-see with Troy Bowles, Nate Staling, Chase Taylor, etc. New system impact unknown.

Special Teams: TBD/question mark (new coach Kerry Combs; mental position for kicker).

Options discussed: Andrew Marsh, Jordan Marshall, Savion Hyder, Bryce Underwood.

• TJ leans Bryce Underwood (“Joker season”).
• John picks Jordan Marshall. Consensus: Loaded offense with multiple potential stars.

• Strong retention under interim HC Mike Boyden (kudos to NIL/Champion Circle).
• High expectations: Top-10 potential, Elite Eight minimum, contend for Big Ten.
• Prove-it year for Boyden; concerns about replacing Dusty May’s elite in-game coaching.

Early impressions from EA Play trial (10-hour limit):

• Gameplay: Power-spread/RPO heavy; lots of QB runs/wraps, jet sweeps, counters, pre-snap motion, shotgun sets. Horizontal emphasis.
• Impressions: Some sluggishness/freezes noted; O-line looked vulnerable in clips (sacks nearly on Underwood).
• Dynasty Mode: NIL credits system added — allocate points/credits to recruits based on stars + hidden gems. Positive addition.
• Standouts: J.J. Buchanan catching everything; opens up Marsh and others.
• Rivalry details enhanced (tunnel walk, etc.).
• Full game drops soon; hosts recommend trying it.

• Thomas Gordon (former Michigan player) GoFundMe shared for ALS support.
• Upcoming: Thursday call-in show, Mark Rogers’ daily CFB show.
• General vibe: Excited for fall camp ~4 weeks away; appreciate the present and real ones around you.

Overall Tone: Positive on roster talent (especially skill positions), measured on trenches/linebacker, hyped for CFB 27 and upcoming season. Classic Michigan fan podcast energy with analysis, humor, and community focus.

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