Michigan’s bye week brought more than rest. It gave the Wolverines a chance to clean up a few issues, get healthier in spots, and reset after a rough stretch that has left the room looking for steadier footing.
At his weekly press conference, Kyle Whittingham laid out how the program used the time off: handling internal business, checking on injuries, and easing returning players back into the mix. One of the biggest topics was the situation involving tight end Zach Marshall, whose comments in a small group chat became public.
Whittingham said Marshall was “extremely apologetic” to both the coaching staff and his teammates after what the coach called an error in judgment. He also emphasized that, while back-to-back losses can create plenty of frustration, the standard inside the building has to stay the same. Marshall has already issued a public statement, and the program has moved on from the matter as it turns its attention to game week.
There was better news on the injury front. Offensive lineman Andrew Babalola is expected back on the practice field after missing about a month because of setbacks after his initial clearance.
Whittingham said Babalola will be brought along gradually during the week as the staff evaluates whether he can play Saturday. That could be a welcome boost for an offensive line that has been juggling lineups and depth concerns since the season opened.
Not every update was as encouraging. Whittingham said Andrew Sprague’s return remains far away, and formal availability reports later in the week will provide the next official injury update.
Michigan is also making a change on special teams. Whittingham confirmed the team will use a new punt returner this weekend, with the decision tied to punt return fumbles and the bumps and bruises that have piled up for the previous returners.
Even with the strain of tight finishes almost every week, Whittingham said he likes the way the group has responded. The Wolverines put together three intense, physical practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the open week, and the coach pointed to that work as a sign of strong resolve. With seven games left, the message inside the program is simple: clean up the mistakes and keep moving forward.
In Other News...
Michigan Teammate Fires Back As Andrew Sprague Rumors Keep Growing
Andrew Spragues absence has become one of the quieter but more persistent storylines around Michigan football since the Oklahoma game, with the offensive tackle sidelined by an unspecified health issue. As the questions have lingered, teammate Jake Guarnera stepped forward publicly to push back on the social media speculation, making clear that Sprague remains with the team and is still contributing even while he has not been on the field.
The comments add some needed clarity, especially after coach Kyle Whittingham said Spragues situation is health-related and that doctors are working on it. For Michigan, the key issue now is less about the online noise and more about patience, since Sprague is not expected back immediately and the Wolverines will have to keep navigating his absence while the recovery process plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Has A Quiet Weapon While The Offense Searches For Answers
While Michigans offense keeps looking for a steadier rhythm, the Wolverines have leaned on a part of the game that has hardly made any noise at all. Through the first five games, Michigan has held every opponent to 20 points or fewer, and when the team has stumbled in losses to Iowa and Minnesota, the defense still gave itself a chance by keeping those games tight. In the background of that grind, sophomore punter Cam Brown has quietly become a useful weapon by regularly forcing opponents to start deep in their own end.
Browns value has been hard to miss for special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs and for teammates who have watched him turn field position into an advantage. His work ethic has drawn praise as Michigan searches for answers on offense, and his consistency has given the Wolverines another way to control games while the bigger issues get sorted out. It is the kind of under-the-radar production that does not usually headline a Saturday, but it has mattered plenty to a team still trying to find its best version. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Hits A Dangerous Pressure Point Against Penn State
Michigan and Penn State are heading into their Week 7 meeting in the 2026 college football season with both programs trying to steady themselves in Big Ten play. It has not been the kind of stretch either side envisioned under new leadership, with Michigan adjusting to Kyle Whittingham and Penn State working through the early days of Matt Campbells tenure after consecutive conference losses.
For Michigan, the pressure point is hard to miss: the offense still needs to find more consistency, even as Bryce Underwood gives the Wolverines a possible running threat to lean on. Penn State, meanwhile, needs splash plays to change the feel of its own offense, and special teams could end up carrying more weight than usual in a matchup where both teams are searching for any edge that can stop the slide. [Read more 🡒]