Michigan’s loss to Iowa stung, and it stung badly. But one September setback does not lock in the rest of the season, and there are still reasons to keep this thing in perspective.
The loudest reaction after a defeat like this usually comes from the same place: panic. Fans go looking for someone to blame, the calls for changes start flying, and social media turns into a mess.
That’s nothing new for Michigan, and the message here is simple - tune it out. Players and coaches would be better off ignoring the noise and letting the season play out.
If Michigan beats Ohio State in November, all of the outrage will vanish fast enough.
There’s also still a path forward on the field. Michigan should be favored to go to Minnesota and handle that game, then come back from a bye week for what looks like a winnable matchup against Penn State.
The Nittany Lions had looked unstoppable before blowing a double-digit lead at home against Wisconsin and losing. If Michigan takes care of business in those two games, 5-1 is a realistic place to be heading into the Indiana game next month.
Win that one, and the Wolverines are right back in the conversation as November arrives.
And Iowa itself may wind up making this loss look better than it feels right now. There’s a strong chance the Hawkeyes finish 11-1, with their only loss coming to Ohio State next week.
After that, they won’t face another ranked team and would not be left out of the tournament. Michigan has seen this movie before, too: the last time the Wolverines lost to Iowa, they were one yard short of winning in Columbus.
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For Michigan, the appeal is obvious. Trusel has the physical tools that can fit a modern passing game, and the Wolverines have been working to show him how he could develop within their offensive system. The visit does not signal a finished recruitment, but it does give Michigan another meaningful foothold in a pursuit that has the feel of one the staff would like to keep close to home. [Read more 🡒]