Roman Wilson is making the kind of noise that has to sting a little for Ohio State fans.
The former Michigan standout, who helped the Wolverines win the national title, has now found the end zone in back-to-back weeks, and Thursday night against the Browns he added another flash play to the growing list. Wilson scored on a 12-yard reception from Aaron Rodgers, then later turned in the biggest gain of his career with a 49-yard catch, also from Rodgers.
That touchdown came two weeks after Wilson hauled in six passes for 60 yards against the Bengals, a performance highlighted by a 38-yard score. For a player who did nothing in his first NFL season, the sudden run of production is hard to ignore.
Wilson now has 13 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the 2026 season. After finishing his rookie year with zero receptions, he got on the field more last season and posted 20 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns, with a long of 45 yards. He topped that Thursday with the 49-yard grab.
The big plays are starting to look familiar again. Wilson was known at Michigan as a sharp route-runner with real speed, and those traits showed up in the biggest moments there, including the game-tying touchdown against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Now he’s beginning to show that same big-play feel in the NFL.
He has at least one catch of 20 yards in three of four games this season, and two of his receptions have already gone for 38 yards or more. He’s done that in consecutive weeks.
For Ohio State fans, the irritation goes back to the 2023 edition of “The Game,” when Wilson caught an epic touchdown in Michigan’s 30-24 win over the Buckeyes. Afterward, Wilson took a shot at Marvin Harrison Jr., essentially calling him soft after Harrison had alligator arms on a Will Johnson interception that could have been the most important play of the game.
Since then, plenty of Ohio State fans have seized on Wilson’s slow start in the NFL to label him a bust. Harrison, meanwhile, has become the subject of trade talk. The former first-round pick had outplayed Wilson over their first two NFL seasons, but this year Wilson has more catches, touchdowns, receiving yards and targets.
All of a sudden, Wilson isn’t the one who looks like a bust.
In Other News...
Michigan Faces A Tense Finish For Elite Legacy EDGE
Asa Burchs recruitment has tightened into a familiar Midwest battle, with the four-star EDGE from the 2026 class now looking chiefly at Michigan and Notre Dame as he moves toward a decision that could come as early as November. Ranked No. 107 overall, Burch has already taken in several major programs, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State, but the picture has started to sharpen around the two schools that have spent the most time in the mix.
Michigan appears to have the edge in recruiting prediction models, which fits the programs position with a prospect whose family ties already point in that direction. His father is a Michigan legacy, and that background has only added to the interest as the race narrows. Notre Dame, though, remains very much in it, leaving the Wolverines with a tense finish ahead if they want to hold onto the lead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Real Road Test After Jeremiah Smith Erupted
Week 5 of the 2026 college football season comes with a little more edge than the usual early-fall slate, especially with 22 undefeated teams still standing and several of them about to be tested in bigger environments. The schedule also carries some of the sports best theater, from top quarterback matchups to the debut of Northwesterns new Ryan Field, while ESPNs College GameDay heads back to Iowa City for the first time in 20 years.
For Michigan fans, the intrigue stretches well beyond the usual scoreboard-watching. Ohio State is staring at a genuine road test after Jeremiah Smith broke loose, and the rest of the weekend offers a good read on where the national race is heading, with defenses, offenses and a few notable playmakers all set to be pushed a little harder than they have been so far. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Passing Surge Could Force A Receiver Test Against Minnesota
Michigans passing game took a noticeable step forward in the most recent outing, with Bryce Underwood putting up a season-high 276 yards and giving the offense a little more balance heading into the Minnesota game. A big part of that growth has come through Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan, who have emerged as the Wolverines most productive receivers and helped give Underwood a pair of reliable targets to lean on.
Marshs status is now the part worth watching, though, because he is listed as questionable and a possible injury could affect both his availability and his effectiveness. If he is limited or cannot go, Michigans coaching staff will have to sort through a receiver group that suddenly feels more open-ended, with the Minnesota matchup offering a real chance for someone else to claim a larger role. [Read more 🡒]