Michigan’s bye week is over, and the Wolverines return with plenty to clean up before Penn State comes to Ann Arbor.
The timing isn’t ideal. Michigan has dropped two straight, Penn State has lost three in a row, and both teams are trying to stop the slide.
For Michigan, this isn’t just another Big Ten game - the math is getting tight, with a 10-2 finish likely needed to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation. That leaves little room for error from here on out.
The biggest question starts on the ground, because that’s supposed to be Michigan’s identity. Instead, the run game has become a problem.
The offense has been inconsistent overall, but the lack of production on the ground has been especially damaging. That makes this week feel like a prime chance to turn things around, since Penn State’s run defense has been among the worst in the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions rank 17th out of 18 teams in the league and just allowed more than 400 rushing yards to Northwestern.
If Michigan can’t get traction there, the concern goes beyond one bad afternoon. At that point, it becomes fair to wonder when, or if, the run game is going to show up.
The other major storyline is Bryce Underwood. He was named the starter this week, but there are still signs that his hold on the job may not be completely settled.
Underwood has had turnover issues almost all season, coughing the ball up in all but one game. Even in the one clean game, against Oklahoma, the ball hit the ground twice.
Backup Tommy Carr reportedly took 50 percent of the reps with the starters during the bye week, and while Kyle Whittingham said that was routine, it’s hard not to notice the signal that sends. Michigan clearly needs Underwood to settle down, but not in a way that makes him passive. He has to protect the football without becoming afraid to make a play.
Jason Beck put it this way: “The thing I’ll say with Bryce is he cares,” offensive coordinator Jason Beck said. “He works hard.
It matters to him, and he’s feeling that outside noise and all that as much as anybody. He’s really handling that well with his approach and the teammate he is, so we’re always working to get better and improve.
“I really respect the kid he is and how hard he works and how much it matters to him. And we’ll just keep going from here to improve.”
That next step has to come Saturday. If Underwood starts second-guessing himself, Michigan could be in trouble fast in front of its home crowd.
Penn State’s quarterback situation brings a different kind of challenge. Rocco Becht is the most accomplished passer Michigan has seen since Oklahoma’s John Mateer, and he’s the kind of veteran who can punish a defense if he has time.
Michigan’s secondary has been strong, but coverage only lasts so long. The pressure has to arrive.
That’s where Michigan’s pass rush comes in. It has cooled off after an explosive start, and injuries have played a part, with John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols both dealing with issues. The bye week did produce some positive signs, though, as Tariq Boney and Carter Meadows stood out and could earn more snaps to help keep Daley and Nichols fresh.
If Becht gets a clean pocket, he has the tools to pick apart a defense. Michigan needs its front to disrupt him and make this matchup uncomfortable from the start.
In Other News...
Michigan Defense Gets A Big Opening Against Penn State
Penn State will head into its meeting with Michigan without wide receiver Koby Howard, who is set to miss the game because of injury and will sit out for a fourth straight week. For a Michigan defense that has been steady all season and has kept opponents at 20 points or fewer, the absence only sharpens the focus on a unit already built to control a game at the line of scrimmage and on the back end.
Without Howard available, the Wolverines have a chance to make life even more difficult for Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht, especially if their defensive line can win early and the secondary can limit easy answers downfield. It is the kind of setup Michigan likes, with the defense able to squeeze space, force longer drives and put the pressure on Penn State to find production from elsewhere before the game can get away from it. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Found An Immediate Answer At Cornerback
Michigan football appears to have found a late-season boost for its roster plans, as former Cal and Boise State cornerback Jeremiah Earby is expected to join the Wolverines for 2026 after being granted a fifth year of eligibility by the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. The move gives Michigan a veteran defensive back with real game experience, and it also brings in a player who already knows coach Tyler Stockton from their time together at Boise State.
For a secondary that can always use more proven depth, Earbys addition carries obvious appeal because he arrives with familiarity built in and a path to help sooner rather than later. Michigan is also set to add former Tulane and Miami tight end Alex Bauman under the same ruling, but the bigger intrigue here is whether Earby can give the Wolverines an immediate answer at cornerback once he gets settled into the program. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got Midseason Help For A Stretch Run Question
Michigan picked up an unusual midseason boost this week, adding two transfer portal newcomers who could become available right away after a Washtenaw County Circuit Court granted them a preliminary injunction for a fifth year of eligibility. Former Miami tight end Alex Bauman and former Boise State cornerback Jeremiah Earby both bring the kind of experience that can matter most in November, when depth starts to get tested and every available piece becomes a little more valuable.
For Michigan, the timing is the real story here. Bauman gives the offense another option at tight end, while Earby adds needed depth to the secondary, two areas where extra bodies can help keep a stretch run from getting thin. The next question is how quickly they can be folded into the rotation, and whether Michigan can turn this late addition into something more than just emergency insurance. [Read more 🡒]