Michigan heads into Big Ten play with a 3-0 record that hasn’t always looked clean, but it has left the Wolverines in a solid spot as they get ready to host Iowa in Ann Arbor on Saturday. The path to those three wins came with some uneasy moments - a fight with Western Michigan that went all the way to a hail mary at the final buzzer, a defensive-heavy win over Oklahoma that still featured offensive issues, and a first half against UTEP that took a while to settle down before Michigan blew the game open after halftime.
Even with the uneven start, there’s enough here to give this team confidence as the schedule tightens.
The biggest reason starts up front on defense. Kyle Whittingham raised some eyebrows when he said the defensive line looked like the strength of his team entering the season, and through three games that call looks spot on.
John Henry Daley, Dom Nichols, and Nate Marshall have all opened the year strong. Carter Meadows and Tariq Boney have flashed as freshmen, and Benny Patterson has added plays off the edge too.
Michigan has the kind of rotation that lets it attack offenses in waves, which is exactly what defensive coordinators want.
The interior has done its part as well. Trey Pierce, Enow Etta, and Jonah Lea’ea have formed a dependable trio at defensive tackle and have helped hold up against the run. That group is about to get a real test, starting this week against a rugged Iowa Hawkeyes offensive line.
What makes Michigan’s defense so dangerous is how the pass rush and the back end feed off each other. If the Wolverines can force opponents into obvious passing downs, the quarterback is in trouble. So far, the rush has made life hard, and the secondary has only added to the pressure.
Jyaire Hill and Smith Snowden have been playing like one of the better outside corner pairings in the country. Shamari Earls has flashed when he’s been on the field, and Zeke Berry has been steady at nickel, though he is dealing with an injury.
If Berry can get back to full strength, this group has already shown it can smother offenses. The safety room has been another pleasant surprise, with Chris Bracy emerging as a valuable transfer addition.
That defense is going to be asked to hold up against plenty of good quarterbacks still left on the schedule, but through three weeks it has answered the bell.
Michigan also has reason to feel better about Bryce Underwood after a rocky opening stretch. The first game of the season was rough enough to spark real questions, and there was even some speculation about whether he could have been benched during the Oklahoma game if things had gone poorly enough.
That reaction looks more emotional than realistic now. Underwood is the quarterback, and the last two games have gone much better than the first.
Against UTEP, he looked more settled. He wasn’t rattled, he made smart decisions, and the arm talent that made him such a highly touted recruit showed up in a big way. He still has to take better care of the ball, especially with Phil Parker’s defense waiting at Iowa, but the improvement is real.
The passing game has also gotten a lift from the receiver group at the top. JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh both showed what they can do with a bigger workload on Saturday. Each made explosive plays down the field, each found the end zone, and each showed the ability to create after the catch.
That matters because Michigan can’t keep leaning on the ground game alone. Jordan Marshall is dealing with an injury, and even if that situation changes, the Wolverines need more balance when the games get bigger.
They can’t afford to become one-dimensional. Buchanan and Marsh give them a chance to be more dangerous through the air, and that could matter a lot as the season moves deeper into conference play.
In Other News...
Michigan Heads Into Iowa With One Injury Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Michigans offensive line had to absorb a jolt last week when right tackle Andrew Sprague was unavailable against UTEP, forcing a reshuffle up front at a time when the unit is trying to find some continuity. Kyle Whittingham said Spragues return window is still unclear, with the staff waiting on a more precise diagnosis and treatment plan before it can settle on a firmer timeline.
Jordan Marshall offers a steadier note heading into Iowa. The starting running back has been working back through nagging injuries, but he is expected to be available unless something changes, which at least gives Michigan a chance to keep some balance in the offense while the line situation sorts itself out. The real question now is how long the Wolverines may have to manage without Sprague, because the answer could shape more than just one game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Young QB Just Made A Bigger Roster Debate More Urgent
Tommy Carr got his first real taste of game action against UTEP, and the freshman quarterback made the most of a small sample. He completed both of his passes for 23 yards, threw a touchdown, and added 18 yards on the ground, a tidy debut that gave Michigan a quick look at what it might have in a young arm behind center.
Kyle Whittingham praised Carr afterward, but the larger conversation around the program is already growing beyond one outing. With the transfer portal making retention harder and the NCAAs new 5-for-5 rule giving coaches more freedom to play younger guys without burning a redshirt, Michigan has even more reason to weigh development against depth management. Carrs outing only sharpened that debate. [Read more 🡒]
Whittingham Sees One Michigan Issue That Early Wins Havent Fixed
Michigan has taken a step forward since its close opening game, but Kyle Whittingham made clear there is still a larger test ahead. Speaking to reporters, the coach pointed to the need for greater consistency and resilience when games get difficult, noting that progress is real but not yet complete. For a team trying to build on early wins, the message was less about celebrating what has already been cleaned up and more about sustaining it.
Whittingham said the Wolverines have to keep the same enthusiasm, passion and energy for the full length of games, especially once the pressure rises and the margin tightens. The improvement is encouraging, but the issue he flagged is one that tends to show up only after the easy moments are gone, and Michigan will keep facing that challenge until it proves it can hold its level when things turn messy. [Read more 🡒]