Michigan’s offensive line is walking into the Penn State game with more uncertainty than Michigan football would like, and the final injury report only sharpened the concern.
Brady Norton, a starting guard, has been ruled out, which guarantees the Wolverines will need at least one new face in the starting five up front. The bigger question hangs over the middle: starting center Jake Guarnera is a game-time decision.
If Guarnera can’t go, Michigan would be in a tough spot. The source of the problem is obvious enough - losing the center would leave the Wolverines scrambling to figure out who slides into that role.
There is one encouraging development on the report. Andrew Babalola is not listed, which means the former five-star signee will be available.
He remains the highest-ranked recruit in Michigan football history on the offensive line, and his availability opens the door for a possible change up front. Even though he is a tackle, there’s a case for moving him inside to guard, and Michigan would love to get him into the starting group or even use him as the Rhino.
He was supposed to fill that kind of role this offseason, but injury kept him out of every game this season.
Michigan also has other available pieces for the matchup. Dom Nichols, John Henry Daley and Andrew Marsh are all good to go against Penn State. Marsh’s injury was an issue on punt returns, according to Kyle Whittingham, so Michigan will have a new punt returner.
In Other News...
Michigans Quarterback Crisis Just Put A Freshman In A Massive Spot
Tommy Carr was already a name Michigan fans knew well before he ever took a college snap, but Week 7 could put the true freshman squarely in the middle of the spotlight. With the starting quarterback benched, Carr is expected to see significant snaps against Penn State, a daunting stage for any newcomer, especially one who is still early in his first season.
A Michigan native and four-star recruit, Carr flipped his commitment from Miami (OH) to the Wolverines and arrived with plenty of pedigree attached to his name. He is the grandson of former Michigan safety Tom Curtis and former head coach Lloyd Carr, both College Football Hall of Fame inductees, and now the program may need him sooner than planned as it tries to steady the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Reentered The Polls Conversation At A Brutal Time
Michigans win over Penn State was enough to get the Wolverines back into the conversation, even if not back into the rankings themselves. In the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, Michigan picked up 10 votes but remained on the outside looking in, a reminder that one solid result can at least reopen the door even when the season has already taken its share of bruises.
The timing, though, could hardly be more awkward. Ohio State surged to No. 2 after taking down Indiana, which slid to No. 6, while Miami stayed firmly at No. 1 at 6-0, leaving very little room for movement above Michigan. For the Wolverines, the Penn State win created momentum, but the path back into the poll still looks crowded and unforgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans First Big Ten Win Just Sparked A Quarterback Debate
Michigans first Big Ten win under coach Kyle Whittingham came with a clear shift at halftime, when Tommy Carr took over at quarterback and the offense settled into a more reliable rhythm. The Wolverines leaned on the ground game from there, outrushing Penn State by a wide margin while three different backs reached the end zone on the ground and the defense kept setting the table with takeaways.
Bryce Underwoods rough afternoon, highlighted by two interceptions before the switch, turned the spotlight right back onto Michigans quarterback situation even after the win. The defense finished with three turnovers, including two from Chris Bracy, and the Wolverines turned those short fields into 21 points, but the larger question now is whether the change at quarterback becomes more than just a game-day adjustment. [Read more 🡒]