I've been meaning to write this forum topic for a while and finally had some time to do it.  I'll start this off by saying we have two very intelligent guys heading the Offense and Defense.  Knowles, a mad scientist, and Day, an offensive savant. There might be differing opinions after the last year or two but this isn't me saying it, it's the people in the know of college football.  

With all their acumen (and trust me I'm not telling them how to do their jobs) there seems to be a lack of exotic formations.  For Day I would argue that the normal offense is better than any exotic formation but for Knowles, the mad scientist, I was expecting more pinash. Maybe that's too much to expect while trying to still implement the base system but I will go as far as saying I do expect a little more creativity this year.  

If the coaching staff ever needed inspiration, I have ideas in spades.

Let's start with offense:

First one I was thinking of was a 3 TE/2 WR set. The three TEs would be Stover, Scott and Thurman with the WRs being MHJ and Egbuka (or Johnson, you'll see why in a min).  You'd have Stover and Scott inline with Thurman flanked over either of them.  Then MHJ and EE split out to either side.  You're probably asking how this would be viable with no RB? That's solved with the ability to motion EE or Johnson into the backfield pre snap.  With that motion you can still run or play action over the middle.  If the defense doubles MHJ then you have three matchup nightmares who can all stretch the field over the middle. If MHJ is single covered? Well you already won. Easy pitch and catch.

Second offensive formation I was thinking about was a wishbone with Chop/Chip as the up back flanked by Hayden and Trey.  This could be run 2 TE or TE/WR because I hate taking MHJ off the field.  This would allow for short yardage creativity.

Defensive:

4-1-6 rushman/uber athletic on the backend. Sawyer (SDE), Hall (NT), JT (3T) and Curry/Jackson (WDE) on the line.  Hicks in the middle, Styles lined up as a quasi-Will. Igbinuson in the slot. Burke/Hancock on the outside. Carter and Ransom two deep.  On obvious third and long we're getting our best athletes on the field without sacrificing much size.  There's a pass rushing nightmare.  The back 7 is versatile to disguise any look and blitz from anywhere.

5-2 Jack. Specifically built for UM. Best way to neutralize a gap scheme is making sure offensive lineman can't get to the next level and disrupt. Standard hat on a hat up front 4 man line but with the Jack as the chess piece.  I don't have anyone for the Jack yet, just a position. Everyone else is standard except taking the 5th DB off for the Jack.  The main goal is trying to disrupt UM's running game at the point of attack and free up Eichenburg/Chambers for easy tackles. There's a double Jack version (same idea but with two chess pieces instead of one) but that was too hard to explain.

What do you guys think? Anything particular you would like to see formationally exotic or not?