Michigan football is still searching for answers in a season that has gone sideways, but Jake Guarnera made sure the message inside the program was crystal clear this week: nobody is mailing it in.
The starting center told reporters on Tuesday that a players-only meeting had already taken place earlier in the week, and he didn’t soften his stance when talking about where the team stands. Guarnera, who has been playing hurt and still hasn’t missed a game, said, "I hate losing, but I hate quitters even more.
That will not fly with me. ... This team will never quit.
I won't have that on this team."
He also made it clear that if anyone is already looking ahead to the NFL or the transfer portal, that’s their choice. Guarnera, a two-year starter, said the focus should be on finishing the final three games, especially the last one.
For Michigan, that kind of voice matters right now. With the 2026 season not going as expected and the athletic director search beginning to pick up steam, the program is dealing with plenty of uncertainty. Still, Guarnera’s words cut through all of that and put the spotlight back on what’s left to play for.
There was also a separate bit of roster drama on Tuesday involving Nate Marshall. Reports initially said the former blue-chip defensive end was no longer on the team, but a Michigan spokesman later clarified that Marshall is still on the roster and has been suspended indefinitely.
As one report put it, "His status has been changed to suspended indefinitely." The situation has sparked plenty of speculation online, including rumors involving a defensive player complaining about the Rhino and fallout from that, but none of that has been confirmed.
What is clear is that the news only adds to the noise around a program already under pressure. It’s another rough look for Kyle Whittingham, who has also drawn criticism for comments he made about Oregon.
While football has been dealing with frustration and uncertainty, Michigan women’s basketball has been piling up headlines for all the right reasons.
The Wolverines followed their upset win over UConn by rolling past Wright State, 109-52, on Sunday. Six players finished in double figures, with Olivia Olson leading the way again with 19 points for the second straight game. Syla Swords added 16, and Dallas Loughridge chipped in 15 points and six assists.
That strong start carried into the rankings on Monday, when Michigan landed at No. 2 in the AP women’s basketball poll. It’s the highest ranking ever for the program.
Michigan now turns to Columbia on Thursday, with tip-off set for 7 PM EST on ESPN+.
In Other News...
Michigan Gets An Early Reality Check Against Marquette
Michigan heads into Week 2 of the college basketball season already looking for answers after an uneven start. At 1-1, the Wolverines return home to face Marquette with the early-season concerns already easy to spot, especially around shooting and rebounding, two areas that have kept them from finding a steady rhythm. Key players such as Elliot Cadeau have not yet produced at the level Michigan needs, which has made the first stretch of the schedule feel more like a warning sign than a warmup.
Marquette brings a frontcourt that can punish those weaknesses, so this is the kind of matchup that tends to expose whether a team is making progress or just hoping its issues sort themselves out. For Michigan, the challenge is not just playing better for one night, but showing it can clean up the basics against a physical opponent that will make every missed shot and loose board feel even bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Offense Faces One Big Test After Sudden Shakeup
Michigans offense enters a pivotal week after the loss to Michigan State prompted a sudden change on the sideline, with offensive coordinator Jason Beck relieved of his duties and offensive line coach Jim Harding stepping in on an interim basis. It is the kind of shakeup that can alter the tone of a season in a hurry, especially with a high-profile opponent waiting and little time for the Wolverines to sort out what comes next.
Oregon is the next challenge, and Dan Lanning has already acknowledged that a coaching change can matter even if it does not completely rewrite an offense overnight. The Ducks have built momentum with wins over Northwestern and Ohio State, and they will try to keep rolling against a Michigan team now trying to steady itself while adjusting to a new voice in the booth. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Walks Into An Oregon Team With Everything Still On The Line
Oregons comeback win over Ohio State did more than add another marquee result to the Ducks rsum. It pushed them up to No. 16 in the College Football Playoff rankings and kept the door open on a postseason run, with a fake punt pass helping swing the momentum in a 41-28 victory that felt like the kind of game that can change a seasons direction.
Now the Ducks turn around and host Michigan with plenty still hanging in the balance, even as injuries have thinned out parts of the roster and Jeremiah McClellan has returned from his own absence. For the Wolverines, the trip comes with its own intrigue, as they plan to start true freshman quarterback Tommy Carr and walk into a road environment where Oregon is still trying to protect its playoff position while sorting through the wear and tear of a long stretch. [Read more 🡒]