Shea Patterson optimistic he'll be eligible immediately at Michigan

If Shea Patterson is correct in his thinking, Michigan fans will likely be able to watch the prolific transfer quarterback on the field next season.

Patterson committed to Michigan earlier this week, opting to transfer to the Big Ten school from Ole Miss following the NCAA sanctions on the Rebels program. Normal rules would see Patterson sit out for a season, but due to the postseason bowl ban Ole Miss was hit with, he's petitioning the NCAA to grant him immediate eligibility.

"From what I'm hearing, I'm pretty sure that I will win that and be able to play next year," Patterson told Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade. "If I don't, I'll work as hard as I can learning the offense and I'll be playing the year after."

With Ole Miss banned from a bowl in 2018, as well as a self-imposed bowl ban this season, rising seniors were given free transfers without penalty, as per NCAA rules. Patterson will be a junior next season but is hoping the NCAA will allow him the free transfer as well, since his main reason for leaving Ole Miss is related to the lack of opportunity at a championship.

"One of my main goals was to win a national championship," Patterson said. "At Ole Miss, I didn't have the opportunity to do that. Things didn't shake out the way I planned - Coach (Hugh Freeze) got fired, the two-year bowl ban. I couldn't look back on it after college and say I never got an opportunity for something like that."

Regardless of when Patterson does eventually take the field for the Wolverines, a loaded roster with his ability at quarterback should make a championship a realistic possibility for Michigan.