The Michigan Wolverines’ football season didn’t exactly pan out as anyone had envisioned—least of all Davis Warren. The walk-on quarterback, who had overcome leukemia to don the maize and blue, had set his sights high in the offseason. He dreamed of securing the starting role and leading Michigan to yet another national championship. It was an ambitious goal, especially for a program that had lost significant offensive firepower during the offseason.
For a moment, it seemed like Warren’s dreams were within reach. He narrowly edged out Alex Orji on the quarterback depth chart to earn the Week 1 starting spot. But the season quickly unraveled. Turnover issues plagued Warren early on, with six interceptions across the first three games. Michigan’s offense sputtered, and by midseason, the team’s promising 4-1 start had crumbled into back-to-back losses against Washington and Illinois. Those defeats extinguished any lingering hopes of a fourth consecutive Big Ten title. By late October, after failed experiments with Orji and veteran Jack Tuttle, the coaching staff returned to Warren to finish out the season.
“I wouldn’t say it went exactly how I wanted it to,” Warren admitted candidly during a press conference on Thursday. “There are still plays from certain games that stick with me—moments where I know I could have done better for the team.”
Despite the setbacks, Warren found redemption in the final stretch of the season. He led Michigan to a critical win against in-state rival Michigan State, followed by back-to-back victories over Northwestern and Ohio State. Those efforts propelled the Wolverines to a 7-5 record, earning them bowl eligibility and a spot in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl against No. 11 Alabama.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who just love football,” Warren shared, exuding optimism. “They love playing, they love practicing, and as Coach Moore says, this is another chance to get better. To finish the season against a great team like Alabama? You can’t ask for much more than that.”
Michigan’s upcoming clash with Alabama is steeped in history and a hint of irony. It was less than a year ago, on Jan. 1, that the Wolverines defeated the Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, a game that paved their path to the national title and ended Nick Saban’s storied coaching career. Now, Alabama is under the direction of Kalen DeBoer, the former Washington head coach. For DeBoer and his roster, still reeling from being excluded from the 12-team playoff, this game is as much about redemption as it is about competition.
Yet Michigan’s team is far from its former glory. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell was fired earlier this month, leaving tight ends coach Steve Casula to take over play-calling duties. Adding to the turmoil, several top NFL draft prospects have opted out of the bowl game, and two scholarship quarterbacks entered the NCAA transfer portal. Amidst this chaos, Warren stands as Michigan’s best option at quarterback, despite having surpassed 200 yards passing in a game only once this season.
“Winning this game is important,” Warren said with determination. “As a team, as an offense, we need to uphold the Michigan standard.”
The narrative surrounding Warren’s future is another layer of intrigue. With one year of college eligibility remaining, his path is uncertain. The Wolverines are already bolstering their quarterback room for the future. Five-star recruit Bryce Underwood has joined the roster and started practicing, while Michigan actively scans the transfer portal for an experienced quarterback to lead them in 2025.
Though these moves could signal that the program is preparing to move on from Warren, the quarterback remains focused on the present. He deflected questions about his future during Thursday’s media session, sharing instead that offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore had expressed his desire for Warren to stay at Michigan.
“Right now, it’s about finishing this season on the right note,” Warren emphasized. “I’m proud of how I’ve stuck it out through everything. When the team needed me, I stepped up and delivered. Now, I’m excited to finish this on my terms, our terms as an offense, against Alabama.”
For Warren, the ReliaQuest Bowl isn’t just about securing a win for Michigan—it’s about proving himself. He’s eager to continue improving, both as a player and a leader.
“It’s all about getting better at football,” he said. “Developing, improving, and becoming the best quarterback I can be for this team and for these guys. That’s my focus.”
As the Wolverines prepare to face the Crimson Tide, the stakes are clear. For the program, the game is a chance to salvage a rocky season. For Warren, it’s a personal mission—a final opportunity to leave his mark before the team turns the page to a new chapter. Whether this season ends in triumph or disappointment, one thing is certain: Davis Warren’s resilience and determination have made him a cornerstone of Michigan football’s turbulent 2024 journey.
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