Jason Beck enters Saturday’s rivalry game with Michigan State carrying more pressure than ever, and this is the kind of matchup that should either quiet the noise or make it louder.
Michigan’s offense has been uneven all season, and the numbers tell the story. Through eight games, the Wolverines are sitting at No. 97 nationally in rushing offense at 138 yards per game and 3.70 yards per carry.
The passing game has been even shakier, ranking No. 120 with 178.4 yards per game, along with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Add it all up, and Michigan is No. 114 in scoring offense at 21.3 points per game.
That’s not the standard in Ann Arbor, and it leaves Beck as the biggest X-Factor heading into this weekend.
The matchup is there for Michigan to finally look like a functional offense. Michigan State ranks No. 86 against the run and No. 50 against the pass, which gives the Wolverines a real chance to get back on track. Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham has kept stressing the need for a reliable ground game, but the offense has had trouble opening lanes for Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter.
This is the spot where that has to change.
If Michigan can run the ball with more authority, it should clean up the third-down picture and give freshman quarterback Tommy Carr more room to operate. Carr is coming off a strong showing against Rutgers, and Whittingham has praised his mobility, decision-making and playmaking ability. As Carr gets more comfortable as the starter, Beck has a chance to open things up a bit more.
Michigan State’s offense has been just as rough, which should help Michigan’s defense create favorable field position for Beck’s unit. The Spartans rank No. 122 nationally in rushing offense and No. 117 in passing offense.
That said, rivalry games don’t always follow the script, and Michigan can’t treat this like a guaranteed fix.
Still, this is exactly the type of opponent against which Michigan should be able to assert itself. Whittingham has already made it clear the offensive issues are a concern, and he has said difficult coaching decisions aren’t off the table if the production doesn’t improve.
If the Wolverines can’t move the ball against this Michigan State defense, the questions around Beck’s offense are only going to get louder.
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Oregon Michigan Broadcast Choice Says A Lot About Where Both Teams Stand
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Oregon arrives with the same 5-3 record, which makes the broadcast assignment feel like a fitting snapshot of both programs right now. Neither side is in the national-title conversation, but there is still enough name value and enough at stake to make the meeting matter, especially for Michigan as it tries to steady a difficult season and keep its postseason path alive. [Read more 🡒]