In January 2024, the University of Michigan won college football’s national championship with a team of mostly homegrown players. There were some transfers—the kicker, a second-string tight end, and a few on defense—but most of the stars had enrolled at Michigan as freshmen. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, and defensive back Mike Sainristil had either already committed to Michigan or been on the team during its pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when the Wolverines went 2-4.
