Michigan is 2-0, and that alone has changed the early shape of the season. The Wolverines have managed just 30 points across their first two games, yet they’ve still walked away with two wins. That’s the kind of start that forces a bigger question: are they a real College Football Playoff team, or is this record hiding trouble that’s still coming?
Before the season, 9-3 was the number most people landed on for Michigan. The reasoning was pretty straightforward.
The Wolverines looked like the clear favorite in seven games, but Oklahoma, Penn State, Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State were the five matchups that figured to decide everything. A 3-2 mark in that stretch should be enough to get them into the CFP.
Anything worse, and the path gets much messier. With the win over Oklahoma already banked, Michigan has checked off one of its biggest tests.
That’s why the current position matters so much. The Wolverines still have every major goal in front of them, and the expanded playoff gives them some breathing room if they can keep stacking wins.
The defense is the biggest reason optimism is still alive. Dom Nichols and John Henry Daley look like a strong edge-rushing duo, the defensive tackles have held up well, and the secondary has been the clear standout.
Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, Smith Snowden, Rod Moore and Chris Bracey have all played excellent football, and right now Michigan may have the best defensive backfield in the Big Ten. Better offenses are coming, but Jay Hill’s group has looked the part through two games.
Special teams have been a pleasant surprise too. Cam Brown turned in a magical punting day last Saturday, and Michigan will be hoping that continues.
Offensively, though, there’s plenty to clean up. Bryce Underwood has been well below expectations, and his struggles reading the defense against Western Michigan stood out immediately. Jason Beck also clearly dialed back the offense against Oklahoma, and while that approach got the job done, it remains to be seen whether it can hold up over a full season.
The run game hasn’t provided much help either. Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter have both had a hard time finding room behind an offensive line that was supposed to be one of the team’s strengths.
Hiter missed several zone reads against Oklahoma, and Marshall has not made the most of his chances. Oklahoma’s front is legitimately elite, but the line wasn’t exactly blowing open lanes against Western Michigan either.
There have been other annoyances, too. Michigan’s linebackers covering in space has been an issue, and discipline has taken a hit with penalties showing up at the wrong times.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans May Need To Rethink Pregame Plans For UTEP
Michigan fans headed to Saturdays game against UTEP may want to keep one eye on the forecast and another on Michigan Athletics social feeds. University and public safety officials are monitoring weather conditions that could affect the normal pregame routine, including when gates open and how easily fans can get into parking areas around the stadium.
With the No. 19 Wolverines already 2-0, the on-field focus remains on staying sharp in a nonconference tuneup. But for everyone planning to make a day of it, the bigger question is whether the usual arrival plan will hold up, and the school is urging fans to stay put in safe locations if openings are delayed and to keep checking official updates before heading over. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Is Giving Michigan Fans Real Hope And One Big Debate
Michigans win over No. 11 Oklahoma did more than add another marquee result to the rsum, it put Bryce Underwood back at the center of the national conversation. The freshman quarterback drew praise from head coach Kyle Whittingham for the way he handled the game plan, and even a former rivals coach in Urban Meyer came away impressed by his athleticism. For a program that has spent plenty of time proving itself on the big stage, Underwoods early presence is giving the fan base something it has been eager to latch onto.
The bigger question now is how much of that promise can hold up when the spotlight stays on and the schedule gets less forgiving. Analyst Josh Pate said the Oklahoma win still left him unsure about Michigans consistency, which is the kind of follow-up debate a good September victory always seems to create. For the Wolverines, the appeal is obvious: Underwood looks like the kind of quarterback who can elevate everything around him, but the real test is whether the team can keep matching that standard week after week. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Building Real Momentum For An In-State Five-Star Flip
Michigan keeps pressing for one of the top in-state targets on its board, and five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant is very much in the middle of that effort. The Oregon commit recently made it back to campus to watch a game, and he came away with a positive impression of the offense, another encouraging sign for a staff that has stayed engaged throughout his recruitment.
Position coach Micah Simon has remained in regular contact with Guerrant as Michigan works to keep its foot on the gas. For now, the receiver is still locked in on his high school season, but the Wolverines clearly have built enough traction to make this one worth watching as the next stretch of recruiting develops. [Read more 🡒]