Michigan walked into its bye week needing more than rest. After dropping two straight, the Wolverines were hoping the break would help patch up an offensive line that has clearly taken a beating - and Wednesday’s initial availability report showed just how real that problem is heading into Penn State.
Six offensive linemen showed up on the report in some capacity, either OUT, Questionable, or Probable. That’s a heavy number for any week, but especially with a matchup against the Nittany Lions on deck. The biggest takeaway is that four of the six offensive linemen who have started games are on the list, with tackles Blake Frazier and Evan Link the only current starters not included.
One name that had already been expected was Sprague, who is set to miss multiple weeks. He hasn’t played since Week 2, and Kyle Whittingham said his injury is perplexing.
That part wasn’t the surprise. The bigger concern is the cluster of uncertainty around the rest of the group.
Efobi being listed as probable doesn’t raise much alarm about his availability for Saturday. But Brady Norton and Jake Guarnera landing as questionable does. That’s where the line starts to look thin in a hurry.
There is at least a small bit of good news for Michigan in the status of Babalola. He’s questionable rather than out, which matters with bodies already piling up. If he’s able to go, even without a starting role, he could be a valuable sixth lineman because of the talent he brings.
John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols are both questionable for the third straight week. Nichols played very little against Minnesota, while Daley has continued to log major snaps. The hope is that the bye gave Nichols enough time to get back in shape for the Penn State game.
The Wolverines do have one advantage elsewhere on the front: edge rusher depth. Freshman Tariq Boney has emerged fast and is already one of Michigan’s better pass rushers. Nate Marshall has been consistent, and together they’ve pushed veteran Cam Brandt down to third string while also seeing him mix inside.
Nichols’ return would help, but Michigan needs at least one of its two questionable edge players available on Saturday.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Have A Real Matt Campbell Debate Now
The debate over Penn States latest coaching decision has quickly turned into a familiar kind of what-if conversation, with Matt Campbell now installed as the programs head football coach and set to be there for years to come. In hindsight, some around the fan base are still looking at the other names that were in the mix, especially Bob Chesney and Terry Smith, and wondering whether the Nittany Lions passed on a different path they might have felt better about.
Chesney has already gotten off to a strong start at UCLA, while Smith had the benefit of familiarity after serving as Penn States interim coach last year. That experience is part of what has fueled the second-guessing, since Smith might have had a better chance to keep more players and recruits from leaving after the previous coachs departure. For now, though, the program has made its choice, and the discussion has shifted from who should have been hired to what Campbell can do with it. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Heads Into Michigan With One Big Concern
Penn State heads to Michigan with the kind of early-season test that can tell you a lot about where a team really stands. Both programs are still chasing their first Big Ten win of the year, and this will be the 28th time they have met in a rivalry that has taken on plenty of weight over the years. With first-year head coaches on both sidelines, the matchup also brings the usual October concerns into sharper focus, from injuries to questions about how steady each defense can be.
PennLives experts see plenty to monitor beyond the final score, from key players who could swing the game to the units that have to hold up under pressure. For Penn State, the bigger issue is not just whether it can compete in Ann Arbor, but whether the team can clean up the defensive problems that have surfaced and survive another week of attrition. The answers may not come easily, which is why this trip feels less like a midseason checkpoint and more like a revealing measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Kraft Still Faces Pressure As Penn State Seeks Answers Under Campbell
Matt Campbell is only six games into his Penn State tenure, but the questions around the program have hardly eased. The Nittany Lions sit at 3-3, and the reset that came after Pat Kraft fired James Franklin following three straight losses has already given way to a different kind of scrutiny as Campbell tries to steady things in his first year on the job.
Kraft was the one who made the bold move to start over, then completed the coaching search that brought Campbell to Happy Valley. Campbell has already acknowledged Krafts willingness to support him, and with Michigan next on the schedule, the urgency around the pairing feels obvious. The athletic directors decision is still being judged, and the early returns under Campbell have only sharpened the focus on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]