Michigan’s Thursday availability report didn’t bring any surprises ahead of Saturday’s trip to Rutgers.
Under Big Ten rules, the Wolverines filed their second of four weekly reports on Thursday evening, and it matched Wednesday’s update exactly. Michigan will release another report Friday, then a final one Saturday, two hours before kickoff at 12:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
The list of players out remained unchanged. Michigan said starting offensive tackle Andrew Sprague, wide receiver Kendrick Bell, wide receiver Braydon Alford, running back Micah Ka'apana, defensive end Julius Holly and offensive lineman Ace Hamilton will not be available. All of them had already been ruled out before and sat out last week’s game, with Sprague the only starter among the group.
The questionable group includes several key pieces. Starting safety Rod Moore, second-string safety Jordan Young, starting edge Dom Nichols, starting edge John Henry Daley, starting offensive tackle Blake Frazier and starting defensive tackle Enow Etta were all listed that way again. Nichols and Frazier missed last week, while Moore and Daley appeared limited in Michigan’s loss to Indiana.
Michigan’s probable list featured starting linebacker Troy Bowles and starting center Jake Guarnera. Bowles leads the Wolverines with 55 tackles, while Guarnera tops the team with 420 snaps played.
Rutgers’ Thursday report looked just as grim, if not worse, especially when it came to depth.
The Scarlet Knights listed starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan, starting safety Kai Sanders and reserve cornerback Zahmir Dawud as out. Star wide receiver KJ Duff and starting guard Tyler Needham were doubtful, while starting defensive tackle Keshon Griffin, preseason starting cornerback Kevin Levy and second-string linebacker Ty Morris were questionable.
Duff’s status stands out most. He ranks sixth nationally with 774 receiving yards, has 36 of Rutgers’ 78 receiving first downs, and has been a massive difference-maker for the passing game. Rutgers quarterbacks average 9.8 yards per target when throwing to Duff, with nine touchdowns and four interceptions, compared to 7.8 yards per target to everyone else, along with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Lonergan’s absence also matters. The source notes he brings a clear upgrade in experience and efficiency over backup AJ Surace, who went 7 of 18 for 64 yards and an interception last week at Northwestern.
In Other News...
Bryce Underwood Could Force A Tough Michigan Decision Soon
Bryce Underwoods path at Michigan has already taken an unexpected turn, with the former five-star quarterback recruit getting benched in favor of Tommy Carr after struggling against Penn State. For a program that has spent so much time building around quarterback stability, the situation has quickly become one of the more intriguing personnel questions on the roster, especially with Underwood still carrying the kind of athletic profile that can tempt a staff to find another way to use him.
Michigan has not made any official decision about a position change, and no approach has been set in stone, but the idea is clearly on the table as the Wolverines sort through their quarterback situation. Underwoods future role now feels like one of those early-season decisions that can shape more than just depth-chart order, because if the staff decides his best path is somewhere other than quarterback, it would say plenty about where things stand behind center. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Escaped Rutgers But The Real Frustrations Arent Going Away
Michigan got what it needed against Rutgers, but not in the cleanest way. The Wolverines squeezed out a 28-21 win after letting a late-game lead slip away long enough to make things uncomfortable, even with Tommy Carr turning in a strong night through the air and on the ground. His 266 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns gave Michigan enough punch to survive, but the overall feel of the game was less about control than escape.
For a program that still has bigger ambitions in the 2026 season, the concerns did not disappear with the final whistle. The defense had stretches where Rutgers found room to answer, including the fourth-quarter tie that briefly changed the tone of the night, and the offense again left questions about consistency and coaching direction. A win is a win, but this one did little to quiet the frustration around how Michigan is being put together week to week. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Still Have One Big Question About This Team
Michigans football profile has drawn a mixed bag of reaction lately, with praise from some corners and sharp criticism from others. Utah State coach Bronco Mendenhall singled out offensive coordinator Jason Beck for the work being done on that side of the ball, while former Michigan players and analysts have pushed back on Kyle Whittinghams coaching style and the way he has handled his public comments.
Greg Schiano added another layer to the conversation by calling Michigans defense elite and pointing to several of its key players as the reason for that reputation. For fans, the contrast is what makes the bigger question linger: if the defense is playing at that level and the offense is drawing positive notice, why does the overall picture around the program still feel so unsettled? [Read more 🡒]