Tag: Michigan Wolverines

The No. 18 Michigan football team has just two more games remaining in its regular season, and it needs to win both of them to have a shot at the College Football Playoff.

On Saturday, the Wolverines will take on their first of those challenges in Maryland. After winning four straight games to start the season, the Terrapins have dropped their last six in a row, and sit at 1-6 in the Big Ten.

Michigan is coming off two close wins over teams it had a chance to beat more handily — beating a struggling Purdue 21-16, and needing a last-second field goal to take down Northwestern, 24-22 — so the Wolverines could certainly use a convincing victory to give them a boost in the rankings before meeting No. 1 Ohio State to finish out the season.

Here are five things to keep an eye on when Michigan takes on Maryland…

The Terrapins throw the ball a lot. They lead the Big Ten in passing attempts with 387, but are 17th in the conference in completion percentage at 57.9%. It’s an odd combination of volume and lack of success, but Maryland hasn’t shied away from airing the ball out all year.

Michigan’s pass defense definitely isn’t as stout as its run defense, but if the Wolverines can make Terrapins freshman quarterback Malik Washington uncomfortable, Maryland’s offense might stall out.

But if Michigan struggles to stop the pass, Maryland might be able to keep up and force yet another close game.

The Wolverines might be down both of their star running backs Saturday, forcing some less experienced guys to step up. Junior Justice Haynes certainly won’t be ready to go after undergoing surgery on his right foot, and sophomore Jordan Marshall’s injury designation is unclear after he suffered a shoulder injury last week.

This means that junior Bryson Kuzdzal and freshman Jasper Parker might be asked to take on much larger roles than usual. Run defense is a weakness for the Terrapins, allowing over 200 rushing yards per game to Big Ten opponents. Even if Marshall is indeed not ready to go, the Wolverines won’t shy away from the ground game, and Kuzdzal and Parker may be set for breakout performances.

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is another guy that could pick up some slack in the run game if both Marshall and Haynes are out. Underwood has proven that he is adept at using his legs to pick up yardage, and Maryland’s defense presents him with a solid opportunity to do more of it.

Underwood has shown improvements in his passing game over the course of the season, but he’s at his best when he is a threat to both run and pass. If he can establish both aspects of his game, he could be set up for a big day as well.

One of the Terrapins’ biggest strengths is their ability to come down with interceptions, as they lead the Big Ten with 18 on the year. Underwood has struggled in the past two games with interceptions, throwing one against Purdue and two against Northwestern.

On the whole, Underwood has been pretty good at staying away from turnovers this season, and the Wolverines hope that the last two games were a fluke. If they want to come away with a big win, they’ll have to take care of the ball, otherwise the Terrapins could hang around.

It’s hard not to pay attention to the looming threat of Ohio State. Each and every year, the clash between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes is the biggest matchup of the year for both teams, and maybe even the country. But in order for The Game to mean anything in the way of making the playoffs, the Wolverines have to beat Maryland first.

Even with the matchup against Ohio State so close, the Wolverines can’t let those thoughts get in the way of handling business against the Terrapins.

Once again, it wasn’t pretty, but Michigan escaped with a win over Northwestern. 

The Wolverines have proven quite adept at ‘winning ugly’ thus far this season, and while it might not be the way they draw it up, it’s hard to argue with a tally in the win column at any rate.

Michigan dominated the game when it came to yards gained, collecting 496 yards to Northwestern’s 246, but the Wolverines’ five turnovers negated any advantage that might have brought them.

Regardless, senior kicker Dominic Zvada’s 31-yard made field goal as time expired gave Michigan the win, no matter how it looked, and kept the Wolverines’ playoff hopes alive.

Here are three ‘Ups,’ one ‘Down,’ and two that could really go either way…

Freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh had one of the best performances from a Michigan receiver in a while on Saturday. He hauled in 12 of his 15 targets, and his 189 receiving yards is tied for sixth all-time in Michigan program history for a single game.

Since Marsh cracked the starting lineup against Wisconsin, he has been the Wolverines most reliable receiver. He has forged an obvious connection with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, and that should be scary for the rest of the Big Ten. As the duo grows together, they have the chance to become one of the most formidable passing duos in the country.

Michigan has struggled at times to put together a consistent passing attack, but Marsh will undoubtedly be a large part of the eventual solution.

As sure as the sun rises, the Wolverines’ lead running back will have a 100-plus yard game. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall put together his fourth-straight such game, tallying 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

With the Big Ten’s top running back junior Justice Haynes still out with a foot injury, Michigan hasn’t seen a drop-off in ground production. After the end of last season, it was assumed that Marshall would be the Wolverines’ top running back this year, but they scooped up Haynes in the transfer portal, forcing Marshall to fight for the spot.

Marshall took that competition in stride, and he’s proving that he might be just as much of a star as Haynes is. Even if Haynes does return at some point this season, Marshall will still be a big part of this offense.

Marshall left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent shoulder injury, but head coach Sherrone Moore says he is hopeful that he’ll be all good to go for next week.

Junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan has had a volatile season thus far. He was an integral part of the 2023 national championship squad as a freshman, and had a solid season last year as a sophomore, but he’s struggled to find his footing here in 2025.

He’s served as Michigan’s punt returner for much of this season, but several miscues in recent weeks might force him out of that role. Saturday, Morgan seemed like he was putting together a solid punt return in the third quarter, but the ball popped out as he was being tackled, and Northwestern recovered the football. Andrew Marsh took over punt return duties from that point onward.

Morgan can certainly still have a positive impact for the Wolverines, but it’s the small mistakes that have been his problem in 2025. He’s proven capable of being an impact player when he’s right, and Michigan needs him to get back to that form.

The Wolverines’ defense as a whole was stellar against a competent Wildcats rush attack. Northwestern was averaging 181.4 yards per game on the ground coming into the game, but it was only able to manage 61 yards on 26 carries against Michigan’s staunch defense.

This has been something that the Wolverines have done extremely well all season, and it came up big late in Saturday’s game. When they needed stops in the fourth quarter, they kept Northwestern behind the sticks and bailed out Michigan’s struggling offense.

Underwood’s first half was the best half of football he’s played all season, hands down. In the first 30 minutes, he threw 15-for-20 for 185 yards and looked comfortable and confident in the pocket. But in the second half, he threw just 6-for-12 for 95 yards and two interceptions.

His two interceptions came on back-to-back passing attempts in the fourth quarter and allowed the Wildcats to climb back into the game. So, in some respect, that alone could earn Underwood a ‘Down,’ but outside of those two throws Underwood was great.

Especially after two rough showings against Michigan State and Purdue, Underwood’s performance on Saturday was actually encouraging on a lot of fronts. It’s a weird one, as he doesn’t fit into either category, but his performance was notable all the same.

It’s hard to give a ‘Down’ to the guy being hoisted into the air after kicking the game-winning walk-off field goal, and I won’t. Regardless, Zvada’s kicking woes still being around this late into the season isn’t what the Wolverines wanted.

Zvada missed his first field goal of the day from 34 yards, a try that is usually automatic for him. After missing just one field goal all last season, he’s missed five this season from closer than 50 yards. Zvada also just barely missed a 60-yarder at the end of the first half, but you can’t hold that one against him.

Ultimately, it was Zvada’s leg that earned the victory in clutch fashion, and he deserves a lot of credit for his calmness in the moment. Hopefully that helps him get his confidence back, because Michigan needs him in top shape as the season reaches its climax.

Junior running back Bryson Kuzdzal stepped up in a big way when Marshall went out in the fourth quarter, holding it down in a big moment…Graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley found a bit of a rhythm again after a stretch of disappointing weeks, grabbing four catches for 59 yards…Senior edge rusher Jaishawn Barham has a nice day, recording two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

At the home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, No. 18 Michigan (8-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) took down Northwestern (5-5, 3-4) in a 24-22 thriller.

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood‘s game was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Underwood looked the best he had all season, but he became unraveled in the second half. In total, he threw 21-for-32 for 280 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh had his best game of the season, catching 12 passes for 189 yards. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall added another great game, rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns, but he exited the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent shoulder injury.

Out of the gates, Underwood was confident and accurate. He completed all five of his passes for 74 yards on the first drive of the game, but the Wolverines came up empty. Marshall’s potential 17-yard touchdown was called back for holding, and senior kicker Dominic Zvada missed a 34-yard field goal.

Michigan got another crack at it after forcing a punt, however, and this time it converted. After a 32-yard reception by Marsh got the Wolverines to the 6-yard line, Marshall finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown rush. The Wolverines lit up the Wrigley scoreboards first, taking the 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

After two empty drives, the Wildcats finally got something working on offense, pushing the ball all the way down into the red zone. But just like it had for the Wolverines, a penalty took away what would’ve been a touchdown for Northwestern, and forced a field goal try. The Wildcats knocked it through, making the score 7-3 with just over five minutes to play in the half.

Michigan had a chance to respond, but a blown up reverse play resulted in a fumble recovered by Northwestern, giving the ball right back. The Wildcats capitalized, but not fully, as the Wolverines forced a field goal to make the score 7-6.

Michigan had one more opportunity to extend the lead before halftime, but Zvada just missed a 60-yard attempt, keeping the score at 7-6 entering the break.

The Wolverines opened up the second half exactly how they wanted to. They forced a punt in four plays, then scored a quick touchdown. The big play of the drive was a 65-yard run from Marshall, which set up the nine-yard touchdown rush from Underwood on the very next play, whichput Michigan up 14-6.

The Wolverines defense immediately forced a three-and-out, and it looked like they were going to get a chance to blow the game wide open. But another fumble thwarted the opportunity, as junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan couldn’t hang on to the ball on the punt return. Northwestern recovered the fumble and started its drive from Michigan’s 36-yard line.

Once again, the Wolverines defense came up big, forcing the Wildcats to settle for a field goal to make the score 14-9.

The Michigan offense responded accordingly, ripping off a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Both the rushing and passing games were working, and the Wildcats didn’t have an answer. Marshall put the finishing touches on the drive, punching in a one-yard touchdown, and putting his squad up 21-9.

Northwestern wasn’t going away, though. It worked its way down the field, scoring its first touchdown of the game on the first drive of the fourth quarter, and making the score 21-16.

With the game in the balance, things turned sour for the Wolverines. Underwood made his first big mistake of the day, tossing an ill-advised pass over the middle, which was intercepted and brought to the Wolverines 6-yard line. It took only one play for Northwestern to punch it in and take its first lead of the game. They elected to go for the two-point conversion, but were unsuccessful, keeping the score at 22-21 in the Wildcats’ favor.

Michigan was content to keep the ball on the ground on the following drive, but Marshall went down with an apparent shoulder injury. And on Underwood’s first passing opportunity, he threw another interception. Still, the Wolverines defense very quickly forced a three-and-out, giving Underwood another chance in great field position.

But the Wolverines turned the ball over for a fifth time, this time on a fumble. They went for a fourth-and-1 on the 24-yard line, and junior running back Bryson Kuzdzal couldn’t handle the handoff, fumbling the ball back to the Wildcats.

While the offense was reeling, Michigan’s defense was keeping the team in the game, forcing yet another three-and-out, and giving the offense another chance to remedy its mistakes with 2:10 remining in the game.

Michigan was playing for the final possession, not wanting to give the Wildcats a chance to respond. And it worked, as with two seconds left, the game was in the hands of Zvada, who was 0-for-2 on the day entering this final try.

Despite all his struggles in the game — and his season as a whole — Zvada nailed the game-winner, and his teammates carried him off the field, victorious.

To commence the final quarter of the regular season, No. 18 Michigan is set to take on Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday at noon.

The Wildcats are a much better team than the one that the Wolverines manhandled 50-6 in Ann Arbor last year. Sitting at 3-3 in the Big Ten, they’ve positioned themselves as a frisky, mid-tier squad that can hang with some of the top teams.

Michigan is fresh off a much-needed bye week, and is looking to turn its play up a notch during the final stretch of the season. The Wolverines are the better team on paper, but nothing comes guaranteed in this conference, especially not against a team like Northwestern.

Here are five things to watch for when the Wolverines take on the Wildcats…

Both Michigan and Northwestern hang their hats on their ground game, as they are third and fifth in the Big Ten, respectively, in rushing yards per game. The Wildcats rely on running back Caleb Komolafe out of the backfield, and he’s coming off back-to-back games with over 100 rushing yards.

With junior running back Justice Haynes very likely still unable to play due to injury, sophomore Jordan Marshall will once again take over lead back duties. Marshall has been stellar in his own right, notching three straight games with 100-plus rushing yards.

This game will likely feature a lot of run plays, and that still plays into Michigan’s advantage. Not only do the Wolverines own one of the best rush offenses in the Big Ten, but they are also one of the top run defenses.

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has had back-to-back games in which he played below his standard, but this game gives him a great chance to respond.

He should have plenty of time in the pocket, given that Northwestern has registered just 13 sacks all season. And if he isn’t throwing the ball, he should also have ample opportunities to use his legs to make plays happen.

The season is in its final stretch, and it’s time for the freshman signal caller to put it all together.

While the Wildcats are adept at running the football, they aren’t quite as sound through the air. They only average 169.9 passing yards per game, the third-worst mark in the conference, and sport a 11-to-9 touchdown to interception ratio.

If Michigan can make Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone uncomfortable, the Wildcats become one-dimensional, and thus, far easier to take down. Look for senior edge rusher Derrick Moore to continue his stretch of terror on opposing quarterbacks. 

As mentioned before, Northwestern can be turnover prone at times, and the best way to take down a team like the Wildcats is to take away their possessions.

Michigan is quite adept at forcing turnovers, boasting the third-most interceptions in the Big Ten, so it’s strength on weakness. If the Wolverines can take advantage and steal some possessions, it makes Northwestern’s upset attempt much harder.

Michigan has had its share of trouble on the road this season, and given this road game is taking place at Wrigley Field, this game provides an even more unique challenge. 

It’s hard to imagine that many Wolverines have played a football game inside an MLB stadium before, so this is most likely a new endeavor for most of the team. Northwestern, on the other hand, has played several games in The Friendly Confines over the past few years, so they have some experience.

At the end of the day, a football field is still 100-yards long regardless of where it’s located, so nothing should really change. Still, it’s a unique challenge that the Wolverines will have to conquer.

The No. 6 Michigan men’s basketball team (2-0) found itself in an early-season battle against Wake Forest (2-1) Tuesday night, ultimately pulling out an 85-84 victory in overtime.

The contest technically took place at a neutral site, although Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is hardly going to warrant a fifty-fifty fan split. Even with the crowd at its back, Michigan struggled in the second half. The Wolverines entered the break with a 47-34 lead, but couldn’t hold on to it in regulation.

While the game didn’t go how Michigan wanted it to, it put together enough offense and key stops to secure the win.

Here are five key takeaways from the nail-biting victory…

Junior center Aday Mara had his fingerprints all over Tuesday’s game. He stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 18 points alongside his 13 rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. When Mara was on the floor, good things happened.

His five blocks don’t do his defensive presence justice — the Demon Deacons rarely got off a clean look around the rim for fear of the 7-foot-3 Mara’s long arms swatting the ball away. Past his five blocks, Mara probably directly altered half a dozen more.

Naturally, his scoring came mostly off stick-backs and lobs around the rim, but he also flashed his court vision that the coaching staff has raved about. Thanks to his height, he can see the court largely unhindered, and his good decision making and accurate passes make him unique for his position.

In all facets of the game, Mara was the key for the Wolverines.

Alongside Mara, Michigan’s other two transfer forwards — graduate Yaxel Lendeborg and sophomore Morez Johnson Jr. — had off days for their standards.

Lendeborg scored nine points on 4-for-12 shooting from the floor, while Johnson added 10 points and eight rebounds. While neither stat line jumps off the page as particularly bad, the Wolverines want a little more impact from the duo.

Especially late in the second half and into overtime, Lendeborg and Johnson didn’t play as prominent of roles as one would expect. It’s early in the season, and these kinds of performances happen. They’ll both have plenty of chances to get back on track.

The Wolverines had seven players score eight points or more, and that’s a bigger deal than it seems. 

There were moments last year when the offense seemingly ran through one or two players, and if they were having an off night, Michigan struggled mightily. This year, however, there are many more weapons. Someone like Lendeborg can have a rough offensive showing, but the team is still able to pull out a gritty win.

Ideally, every player would be playing at their best all the time, but that’s just not realistic. But when one player isn’t having a great night, there are several others that are more than capable of stepping up.

Michigan isn’t filled to the brim with lights-out shooters, but they are certainly an above-average three-point shooting team. Thus, a 4-for-25 shooting night from deep isn’t something the Wolverines are going to put up very often.

While there were plenty of good looks that just didn’t fall, there were times where Michigan didn’t help itself with its shot selection. There were several early-shot clock deep threes that weren’t in the flow of the offense — while the Wolverines have guys that can make those, most of the time they can find a better, higher-percentage look later in the possession.

Regardless, Michigan is too good of a shooting team to routinely have cold nights like these, so winning despite it is a good sign.

Last year, the Wolverines lost their second game of the season by one point to Wake Forest, and they still went on to have a successful campaign. This year, however, they flipped the script, beating the Demon Deacons by one point in the second game of the year. 

The point being, it’s far too early in the season to draw overarching conclusions about the team. The second game of a 30-game season never defines a team. The most important thing is that Michigan gets a tick in the win column, and it doesn’t hurt to get a little bit of late-game execution practice in, either.

Over the past few weeks, a plethora of Michigan’s major contributors have fallen victim to the injury bug. Luckily for the Wolverines, they have a bye week this week to help them rest up and get healthy before the final three games of the regular season.

Michigan still has everything to play for. Sitting at 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, winning out should place the Wolverines in a very good spot to make the College Football Playoff. Still, a big part of making that push is making sure that everyone is healthy and ready to play.

Here’s the latest news and updates on Michigan’s injuries…

Junior running back Justice Haynes was wearing a boot on his right foot and roaming the sidelines on a scooter against the Boilermakers. There was a lot of speculation the previous week about a potential foot injury, and those rumors were proven correct.

Wolverines fans were given even more bad news on Sunday when CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Haynes will undergo surgery on his right foot.

While the hope is for him to return to the field this season, Michigan will likely be without its star in the back field for several weeks. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall will take over the bulk of the snaps in his stead.

Marshall has been excellent in both a starting and backup role this season, and has produced three-straight 100-yard games. While the Wolverines would love to get Haynes back as soon as possible, Marshall is about as good of a replacement as any team could hope for.

Senior edge rusher/linebacker Jaishawn Barham left last Saturday’s game on the first drive with an apparent upper body injury and never returned.

After playing much of the season at the edge rusher position, Barham was moved back to his natural linebacker role against Purdue due to other injuries at the position. His versatility and talent in both positions have made him a highly valuable asset on defense, one that Michigan wants back as soon as possible.

On Jon Jansen’s “Inside Michigan Football” show on Monday, head coach Sherrone Moore offered some hopeful news on the state of Barham’s injury.

“He went in for a couple plays and had an issue,” Moore said about Barham. “I feel like we’ll get him back. We’ll allow him this week to recover, so I feel like we’ll be in good shape there.” 

Moore also offered some more vague updates on the duo of starting linebackers — sophomore Cole Sullivan and senior Jimmy Rolder — that were sidelined against the Boilermakers.

“We’ll know more as the week goes, and next week, but those guys are getting closer and closer to getting back,” Moore said. “So hopeful on those guys and where they’re going to.”

Both Sullivan and Rolder are massive pieces of a Wolverines defense that has really started to come into its own as the season has progressed. Without them and Barham, Michigan is forced to rely on freshman Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and senior Chase Taylor. While they played well in their own right, getting Rolder and Sullivan back is a priority.

Redshirt sophomore left tackle Evan Link went down with a lower-body injury Oct. 18 against the Washington Huskies, and has not played since. Moore said a few days later that he was hopeful that Link would return this season, but there have been no more major updates on his status.

It has been mum on the statuses of graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who left the game against Purdue, and graduate defensive back Rod Moore, who hasn’t played in nearly a month. Moore has been out for much of the season, playing just three games with limited snaps, but McCulley is a big part of the Wolverines offense, and losing him for an extended period of time would be a big blow.

As the bye week progresses, there may be more in-depth updates on some of these players, but as it stands now, Michigan is in ‘wait and see’ mode.

At this point in the season, wins are at a premium, no matter what they look like. But Michigan’s somewhat-sluggish 21-16 win over Purdue Saturday night wasn’t enough for the AP Poll Top 25 voters to give the Wolverines a little boost.

Staying stagnant, Michigan enters its second bye week ranked No. 21 in the country.

Michigan’s pass offense struggled for the second week in a row, but the running game was as good as ever. Even with star junior running back Justice Haynes sidelined with an injury, sophomore running back Jordan Marshall had another terrific game. He gained 210 total yards, 185 on the ground and 25 through the air, and rushed for all three of Michigan’s touchdowns.

The Wolverines defense was banged up, particularly at the linebacker spot, and the Boilermakers looked more comfortable than many expected. Still, the Michigan defense did enough in the big moments to keep Purdue mostly at bay.

Michigan controls its own destiny in terms of making the College Football Playoff. If they win out, the Wolverines should be a lock to make the field. Unfortunately for Michigan, winning out includes toppling the No. 1 team in the country, and bitter rival, Ohio State.

Regardless, the Wolverines will find out where they stand officially Tuesday night when the CFP rankings come out.

Last week, the top six teams stayed put, this week, the top seven teams kept their rankings. Both teams that Michigan has lost to this season, Oklahoma and USC, earn boosts, and land at No. 11 and No. 20, respectively.

Washington enters the rankings for the first time this season, debuting at No. 24 after its bye week.

Here are the complete AP Poll Top 25 rankings for Week 11:

Other teams receiving votes: Iowa, James Madison, Pittsburgh, San Diego St., North Texas, South Florida, SMU, Houston, Illinois, LSU, Arizona St.

Michigan is idle next week, so its fate in the rankings is out of its hands. Still, this bye week comes at a very opportune time for the Wolverines, as a lot of their major contributors are sidelined with injury. The extra week will give many of those guys some more time to heal up before the final stretch of the season.

When the Wolverines do take the field again, they will face an improved Northwestern squad. After going 2-7 in the Big Ten last season, the Wildcats currently sit at 3-2 in the conference.

Michigan will be favored, but Northwestern isn’t a pushover this year. Even with the end of the season and the bout with the Buckeyes quickly approaching, the Wolverines have to keep their eyes on the current opponent.

On Tuesday, the first iteration of the College Football Playoff rankings will be released, and Michigan will truly know where it stands. Still, the path is relatively clear: If the Wolverines win out, their resume will be plenty strong, but if they don’t, they’ll need a lot of external factors to go their way.

There really is no such a thing as a ‘bad win,’ but Michigan’s 21-16 win over Purdue might fit neatly into the ‘ugly win’ category.

The Wolverines weren’t supposed to have an issue with the Boilermakers. With Purdue still searching for its first Big Ten win since 2023 and Michigan back on its home turf, not many people thought the Boilermakers had a shot. Still, the Wolverines needed all four quarters to put them away for good.

Whether Michigan won by five points or 50, the tick in the win column is no different at the end of the day. Regardless, the Wolverines’ upcoming bye week provides much-needed time to work out the kinks and get healthy again.

Here’s four ‘Ups’ and two ‘Downs’ from Michigan’s narrow win over Purdue…

Starting in place of junior running back Justice Haynes, who was wearing a boot and riding a scooter on the sidelines, sophomore running back Jordan Marshall had yet another excellent game. 

On 25 carries, Marshall gained 185 yards and collected three touchdowns. He also added in a 25-yard reception, bringing his total yardage up to 210. Marshall did it all. Whether it was showing off his speed in the open field or carrying the pile an extra five yards, he dominated in every facet he could.

Losing a Heisman candidate-level running back in Haynes to injury, but not losing much production — if any at all — is a massive luxury for the Wolverines. Michigan certainly hopes that Haynes can return as quickly as possible, but with Marshall in the backfield, it’s still in very good hands.

With his performance Saturday night, senior edge rusher Derrick Moore collected his third-straight game with two sacks. Both came in the first quarter, and the second forced a fumble while Purdue was in the red zone.

With senior Jaishawn Barham moving back to the linebacker position due to injuries at that position — and then subsequently leaving the game with an injury himself — Moore shouldered a bigger responsibility in the pass rush. It didn’t seem to faze him, as he was just as disruptive as he was the two weeks prior.

If Barham is out for an extended period, or is forced back to the linebacker position, Moore’s emergence as a legitimate force at the edge becomes even more important.

For the second week in a row, freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood had a rough game. But also for the second week in a row, he walks away as the winning quarterback. Regardless of the outcome of the game, throwing 13-for-22 for 145 yards and an interception, along with a near-goal line fumble, isn’t a stat line Underwood wants to make a habit of producing.

Underwood was a few feet here and there away from having a really solid game. He overthrew and underthrew several receivers that were end-zone bound had the ball been placed better, and he had two red zone turnovers. A couple of those plays go his way, and the narrative around his performance flips.

But they didn’t go his way, and he has an extra week of practice to work on what he needs to work on before the fourth quarter of the season commences.

It’s not fair to praise only the running back for a dominant running performance, because the big guys up front deserve credit, too. They consistently created solid holes for Marshall to burst through, and helped push him forward for those couple extra yards when they could.

For an offensive line that has been riddled with injury, they’ve really come into their own as a group. They haven’t been perfect, and it’s hard to stack up against the 2021 and 2022 iterations that won the Joe Moore Award, but they’ve performed quite well despite their youth and lack of continuity. 

Michigan’s linebacker room, which was its deepest group for much of the season, has been decimated by injuries recently. Sophomore Cole Sullivan left the game last week against Michigan State, senior Jimmy Rolder was ruled out prior to Saturday’s contest, and Barham left in the first quarter Saturday night with an apparent injury.

Thus, a lot of responsibility fell on the shoulders of senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann to hold it down. He had a very solid game, leading the team in total tackles with 11 (eight solo), with one being a tackle for loss. The hope is that the Wolverines can get their linebackers healthy again, but Hausmann stepped up when they needed him.

Michigan was missing a large handful of big contributors, and it showed against Purdue. Alongside Haynes, Sullivan, Rolder, and Barham, graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley also left the game with an apparent injury.

The Wolverines have a bye week up next, which should give some of these guys time to recover and return to the field. Without them, Michigan just isn’t the same caliber of team. While they could get by against the Boilermakers in this state, the Wolverines might not be able to topple tougher opponents this short-handed.

Graduate edge rusher TJ Guy picked up a sack for the second week in a row, his second on the season…Junior tight end Zack Marshall snagged three catches for 58 yards to lead all Wolverines, continuing his solid stretch…Graduate defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny had a really solid game, collecting six tackles, assisting on a tackle for loss, and recovering a fumble.

After a gritty 31-20 road win over in-state rival Michigan State, the AP Poll Top 25 voters moved Michigan up the rankings for the second week in a row. Moving up four spots from No. 25, the Wolverines landed at No. 21 in the Week 10 rankings.

It wasn’t the prettiest game Michigan has played all season, but it was a win nonetheless, and that’s what the voters seem to care about most. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood threw for just 86 yards and completed only eight of his 17 passing attempts, but the running game picked up the slack.

The Spartans didn’t have an answer for the running back duo of junior Justice Haynes and sophomore Jordan Marshall, who combined for 262 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Their performances were enough to overcome Michigan State and escape East Lansing with a win.

The top six teams remained steadfast, with no major upsets or movement, although No. 2 Indiana went from six first-place votes last week to 11 this week. The Hoosiers still aren’t close to overthrowing No. 1 Ohio State, but they are steadily gaining favor.

Michigan’s only two losses — Oklahoma and USC — are both ranked in this week’s poll, with the Sooners dropping to No. 18, and the Trojans breaking back in at No. 23.

Here are the complete AP Poll Top 25 rankings for Week 10:

Other teams receiving votes: Navy, Tulane, Washington, Iowa, South Florida, San Diego St., LSU, James Madison, North Texas, Illinois, Pittsburgh.

In conference play, the main, and only, goal is to come away with a win. A big, impressive win is a bonus, but as long as the loss column remains untouched, it’s a mission accomplished.

This is true even when the opponent is yet to win a Big Ten game. For the second week in row, the Wolverines are slated to take on a team seeking its first conference win of the year, and this week, it’s Purdue.

Like Saturday’s game against the Spartans, the Boilermakers coming into town presents a high-risk, low-reward scenario for Michigan. Beating up on a lesser team isn’t super impressive, but losing to one is devastating. Thus, the main goal is simply to avoid the latter outcome.

Purdue’s offense is much-improved this season, but its defense is still one of the worst in the conference, allowing 427.2 yards per game so far against Big Ten opponents. The one thing that the Boilermakers defense has going for it, however, is that its main weakness is its pass defense, and Michigan hasn’t been an elite passing team.

The Wolverines are a 21.5-point favorite as of this writing, according to FanDuel, with many expecting a blowout in Michigan Stadium come Saturday.

You can hear the call of the game when Michigan takes on Purdue on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., on 94.7 WCSX. Here’s the full Michigan football schedule.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Michigan football team boarded the bus back to Ann Arbor with a 31-20 rivalry win over Michigan State in its pocket.

The Wolverines were quiet in the passing game, but it didn’t matter, because their rushing attack was elite. The defense had some lapses, but overall was quite solid, coming up big when it mattered most.

With the win, Michigan won its first night road game of the season after losing its first two. Even if it wasn’t as dominant as some expected, any road win in the Big Ten is a good win, especially against a bitter rival.

Here are four ‘Ups’ and two ‘Downs’ from the Wolverines’ win over the Spartans…

Senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder was everywhere for Michigan Saturday night. On the opening drive, he jumped on a fumble, gaining possession and staying in bounds long enough to ensure Michigan got the ball. He also broke up a pass and had several massive tackles, including a sack and a fourth-quarter, fourth-down stuff.

With fellow linebacker, sophomore Cole Sullivan, leaving the game with an injury, Rolder stepped up in a massive way. It’s been said all season, Michigan’s linebacker corps is incredibly strong, and Rolder is a big part of that. But with an injury to Sullivan, more responsibilities might fall onto Rolder’s shoulders.

Saturday night, however, he proved he was plenty capable of holding it down.

Between Michigan’s two running backs, junior Justice Haynes and sophomore Jordan Marshall, the Wolverines ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 41 attempts. Michigan’s passing game wasn’t performing well, but it didn’t matter, because the duo of Haynes and Marshall might just be the best running back duo in the country.

After missing the game against Washington, Haynes was back and just as productive as he was pre-injury. During his stint on the injured list, however, Marshall got the chance to shine, putting together a really nice game against the Huskies. Now that they’re both healthy and confident, the duo will be even more foreboding for opposing defenses.

It was a bit of a weird game for freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Just one week after his most complete performance against Washington, he took a step back against the Spartans. Part of this was due to the game script — he only threw the ball 17 times — but even when he did throw, he wasn’t as accurate, completing just eight passes for 86 yards.

Underwood is still quite young, and he’s learning on the fly each and every week. There’s no doubt that this game was full of learning experiences for the 18-year-old, and learning experiences are much easier to digest when they come in a win. 

Junior defensive back Jyaire Hill had an all-around very solid outing Saturday night. He was tasked with keeping Michigan State’s star wide receiver Nick Marsh in check, and Hill largely succeeded. He dropped a potential interception in the first quarter, but otherwise made very few mistakes.

Hill’s development into a reliable cornerback has been big for Michigan. He’s someone that the coaching staff trusts against the opponent’s No. 1 receiver, and he takes the challenge in stride. In the Wolverines’ young secondary, he’s emerging as the lead guy.

Following his best performance of the season last week, senior edge rusher Derrick Moore had yet another great game. For the second week in a row, he tallied two sacks, and he almost had three, but he had one erased in the fourth quarter due to a holding call.

It seems that Moore has found his footing in recent weeks, and that’s a big win for Michigan. The ability to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable has been a large component of the Wolverines’ defensive success as of late, and they will continue to count on Moore to bring the pressure.

Michigan’s special teams have been shaky all season. Punt and kick returns have been the main culprits, and the same was true against Michigan State. On a punt, junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan called for a fair catch at the 5-yard line instead of letting it bounce into the end zone, or at worst, take the bounce further into positive territory. 

Similarly, after a penalty moved Michigan State’s kickoff back 15 yards, freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh called for a fair catch at the 8-yard line instead of taking it out with plenty of open space.

Senior punter Hudson Hollenbeck has also struggled with consistency, and that was also exemplified Saturday: He had a beautiful 67-yarder to pin the Spartans deep, but he also kicked a 32-yard dud.

Ultimately, the miscues didn’t cost Michigan, but in a closer game, small things like these can be the difference between a win and a loss.

Graduate edge rusher TJ Guy collected his first sack on the season…Tight end/fullbacks Jalen Hoffman and Max Bredeson both threw great blocks on Underwood’s touchdown run…Marsh continued to be solid in the passing game, catching three of his four targets for a team-leading 54 yards.

Graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley had another quiet game, catching just one of his six targets for nine yards…Morgan’s struggles with drops continued, as he dropped a possible third-down conversion.

In a physical, ground-heavy bout, No. 25 Michigan (6-2 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) took care of its in-state rival Michigan State (3-5, 0-5) by a score of 31-20.

The Wolverines’ running backs lead the way, with junior Justice Haynes rushing for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore Jordan Marshall tacking on 110 yards and a touchdown of his own. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood wasn’t asked to throw much, but either way, it wasn’t his best game. He threw 8-for-17 for just 86 yards, but rushed for a touchdown.

The Michigan defense immediately made its presence felt, forcing and recovering a fumble on the third scrimmage play of the game. The Wolverines offense turned the free possession into points, but not as many as they wanted. Michigan earned a first-and-goal at the three yard line, but was forced to settle for a field goal and the early 3-0 lead.

After forcing the Spartans into two more three-and-outs, Michigan struck again. It utilized the run game for most of the drive, and Underwood finished it off with a 13-yard touchdown scamper to make the score 10-0 in the first quarter.

As the first quarter came to a close, Michigan was in total control. Michigan State had still not gained a first down, and the Wolverines gained 113 yards of offense to the Spartans’ 14. Michigan’s offense wasn’t clicking like it was against Washington, but it did enough to earn a two-score lead after 15 minutes of play.

The Spartans found a rhythm to start the second quarter, however. Helped immensely by a 49-yard run from Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier, quarterback Aidan Chiles punched it in for the one-yard touchdown. Just like that, the Spartans had life, with the score at 10-7.

Things continued to go downhill for Michigan, as an errant snap snuffed out a third-and-1 opportunity. While the Spartans didn’t get points on the next possession, the rhythm and momentum Michigan had in the first quarter had completely evaporated. Both teams traded punts from there, and the Wolverines entered halftime still up 10-7.

Michigan came out of the half looking like the first quarter version of itself. It put together a seven-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, in which Haynes gained 64 yards by himself. Fittingly, he also scored the touchdown to extend Michigan’s lead to 17-7.

The Spartans offense also reverted to its first-quarter state, punting on its first two drives of the second half, and Michigan’s offense continued to convert.

Once again, the Wolverines were ground-heavy. On just five plays, they gained 52 yards, capped off by a 14-yard touchdown rush from Haynes. Any semblance of momentum that Michigan State gained in the second quarter was quickly leaving the building, as its deficit reached three scores at 24-7.

But it’s a rivalry game, and the Spartans weren’t simply going to go quietly. A big 24-yard pitch-and-catch from Chiles to his star receiver Nick Marsh set Michigan State up at the half-yard line, then running back Brandon Tullis punched it in to bring the score back to 24-13 to start the fourth quarter.

With just under six minutes to play, Haynes fumbled the ball, and the Spartans recovered it near midfield. Still down two scores, Michigan State needed to get points, and quickly. But for the second drive in a row, the Wolverines forced a turnover on downs, giving Michigan a chance to drain the clock and put the game away for good.

But the Wolverines did more than just run the clock out. With under three minutes to play, Marshall broke off a 56-yard touchdown run make the score 31-13.

The Spartans snuck in one final touchdown to make the score look a little more friendly at 31-20, but it didn’t matter at the end of the day, as the Wolverines walked out of East Lansing unscathed.

There was one silver lining in Michigan’s bummer 31-13 loss at USC. It kept last weekend’s Wolverines from looking ahead to Michigan State. Michigan played with focus in a 24-7 victory over the Washington Huskies to come into this weekend’s rivalry game at 5-2, still alive in the Big Ten race. 

Michigan will try for its sixth win against the Wolverines’ archrival Michigan State Spartans inside Spartan Stadium this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST. Michigan State is a two-touchdown underdog on the spread. 

Why such lopsided Las Vegas odds for a clash of bitter rivals? MSU has suffered a four-game losing skid after winning its first three games of the season. Michigan State ranks second-from-last in the Big Ten in team defense, without any ball-control aid from a stale running game that averages 3.7 yards per carry. 

Note: The above data was collected on Oct. 24, 2025, and may have changed since writing. 

Michigan has won the Paul Bunyan Trophy three straight times since 2021. While the Wolverines scored blowout wins over the Spartans in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, last year’s clash in Ann Arbor produced more drama. UM survived to win 2024’s game 24-17 despite being outgained by more than 100 yards. 

Robert Bondy of Spartans Wire implies that Michigan’s biggest task will be pass protection, mentioning that UM offensive lineman Evan Link is “expected to miss multiple games,” a factor that could give MSU’s defense an edge in the trenches. But in the same article, Bondy admits that the Michigan State pass rush is “struggling.” Michigan QB Bryce Underwood outclasses his counterpart Aidan Chiles, and Michigan’s own rushers have a better shot to harass Chiles than MSU has of reaching Underwood’s pocket. 

Don’t forget that Michigan tailback Justice Haynes is having a breakout year. It’s hard for an underdog to deal with a heavy favorite that runs successfully and sticks to it. Look for Michigan to cover the spread.

On Saturday night in East Lansing, a battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy will commence between No. 25 Michigan and Michigan State.

The Wolverines are in a much better position in the Big Ten at this point in the season, sitting at 3-1 while their Spartan counterparts are 0-4. But that all goes out the window when it comes to this game. No matter what their records are, this matchup will always be one of the most important games they play each and every season.

Here are five things to watch for when Michigan and Michigan State take to the gridiron…

In its four Big Ten bouts, Michigan State has allowed an average of 181.5 rushing yards per game. That’s not a good omen for the Spartans, as it pits Michigan’s strength against Michigan State’s weakness.

Regardless of whether junior running back Justice Haynes is ready to go — head coach Sherrone Moore has indicated that he should be — sophomore running back Jordan Marshall proved that he is more than serviceable with his great performance last Saturday against Washington.

Expect the Wolverines to stick to their guns and emphasize the run game early and often.

Michigan State’s pass rush isn’t very reliable. It has accrued seven sacks on the season, but five of them came against Nebraska, which has allowed a ridiculous 5.5 sacks per game in Big Ten play. Outside of that game, the Spartans haven’t been able to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

This bodes well for Michigan, as freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has been quite good when he has time to operate in the pocket. Coming off of his best game of the season against Washington, Underwood will have an opportunity to do it again against Michigan State.

Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh is elite. He’s a big, strong, and fast pass catcher that has the ability to pick apart defenses, and the Wolverines will have a lot on their plates when it comes to slowing him down.

It will have to be a team effort in the secondary to make sure he is always marked and doesn’t break free. The Michigan pass rush will also play a big role as well, as the more uncomfortable Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles is in the backfield, the fewer chances Marsh has to rip off a big play.

Through four Big Ten games, Michigan State is allowing 39.8 points per game, the second-worst mark in the conference. Thus, the Wolverines should have a chance to put up some big offensive performances. 

Especially in a heated rivalry like this one, getting an early multiple-score lead can be a massive advantage. If Michigan’s defense can perform like it did against Washington, the Wolverines offense should have ample opportunity to put enough points to bury the Spartans.

This will be the third road game Michigan has played at night this year, and its record in those games is 0-2. Both losses to Oklahoma and USC were played at an opposing stadium under the lights, and those are the only two losses to the Wolverines’ name.

Michigan will have a chance to right the ship this time around. It’s all about the small things: take care of the ball, play well on special teams, don’t let the moment get too big. As long as the Wolverines stay within themselves, they shouldn’t have too much of a problem with their rival.

Just one week after Michigan fell out of the AP Poll Top 25 rankings for the first time in 2025, the voters slotted the Wolverines right back into the list, sneaking them in at the No. 25 spot.

Michigan played polished football on both sides of the ball Saturday against Washington. A top 20 team in the nation when it comes to total yards of offense, the Huskies scored just seven points against a staunch Wolverines defense. 

Washington’s only points came in the final minute of the first half, and was held to zero points and just 62 yards in the second half. Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr.’s three interceptions certainly didn’t hurt Michigan, either, as Washington could never truly get into a rhythm.

Even with junior running back Justice Haynes not playing, sophomore running back Jordan Marshall had an outstanding game, rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood also had a great day, throwing 21-for-27 for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

Ohio State continues its reign over the top spot after a convincing 34-0 victory over Wisconsin. Louisville pulled off a big upset over then-No. 2 Miami, bumping the Cardinals into the poll at No. 19 and forcing the Hurricanes to drop to No. 9.

The Big Ten once again holds the top 2 positions, as Indiana rises to No. 2 in the country after Miami’s loss. Alabama rounds out the top 3 after beating then-No. 22, now-No. 17 Tennessee.

Here are the complete AP Poll Top 25 rankings for Week 9:

Other teams receiving votes: Southern Cal, Utah, Tulane, Houston, Navy, San Diego St., James Madison, Boise St., TCU, Minnesota

Michigan’s next opponent is bitter in-state rival Michigan State. While this matchup may be immensely important when it comes to pride, the Spartans don’t offer a ton of opportunity for the Wolverines to prove their worth.

After starting 3-0, Michigan State has come apart at the seams. The Spartans are now 0-4 in Big Ten play and are allowing the third-most yards per game in the conference at 416.5. They are in a bad spot as a program, and Michigan should have no problem handling business in East Lansing.

Still, a lopsided victory is the expectation for Michigan, so even if the Wolverines run the Spartans out of their own stadium, they won’t see too big of a jump in the rankings. If Michigan loses, however, its playoff hopes are out of the window.

Ignoring the large cultural importance of the rivalry and focusing simply on season implications, the Wolverines don’t have much to gain, and a whole lot to lose next Saturday night. In order to keep the season alive, Michigan will need to handle business. 

The Wolverines are a 13.5-point favorites as of this writing, according to DraftKings. Rivalry games are always prone to surprises, especially when played at night in a hostile environment, but Michigan should have little problems against the Spartans.

You can hear the call of the game when Michigan takes on Michigan State on Oct. 25, on 94.7 WCSX. Here’s the full Michigan football schedule.

After a successful first year under head coach Dusty May in which the Michigan men’s basketball team reached the Sweet 16, the Wolverines have reloaded their roster with fresh faces and new talent.

The duo of 7-footers that held down Michigan’s front court last season — forward Danny Wolf and center Vlad Goldin — both left for the NBA, point guard Tre Donaldson transferred to Miami, guard Rubin Jones graduated. With four starters leaving the program, May and his staff had a busy offseason of retooling the roster.

Here are the four freshmen and four transfers that May brought in for the 2025-26 season…

The crown jewel of this recruiting class, freshman guard Trey McKenney is in the best position of all the freshmen to earn playing time right out of the gates. Ranked 18th in the nation, the five-star guard brings the whole package.

McKenney likes to work downhill, utilizing his 6-foot-4 frame to create looks in the midrange. He’s not a sharpshooter by trade, but has proven effective from 3-point range in the preps circuit.

Even with a full backcourt, McKenney will most likely get ample chances to carve out a role for himself this season.

Listed as both a guard and a forward, freshman Winters Grady’s frame suggests he’s likely to slot him into a wing role in college. At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Grady should have a big enough build to battle in the Big Ten, and his ability to do that will largely determine his role on the team.

The four-star, top 100 prospect’s stroke from deep is pure, and shooting is something that this roster lacks on the whole. Depending on his readiness to adapt to the physicality of college basketball, he could find a role for himself at the back end of the rotation.

An unranked prospect out of Germany, freshman center Malick Kordel stands at an imposing 7-foot-2 and weighs 275 pounds. He’s quite athletic for his size and actually grew up playing handball, not basketball.

Kordel only began playing organized basketball four years ago and is understandably quite raw. He has nice touch and physicality around the rim and is a great rebounder, but his offensive game is currently limited to the paint. This season will most likely be a development year for Kordel.

Ranked as just a three-star prospect, Ricky Liburd will most likely be another project for Michigan. With the Wolverines as deep as they are at guard, it’s hard to see Liburd being a regular in the rotation, but his ability to shoot from three is plenty valuable at any rate.

Ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2025 transfer portal, Michigan won a big battle by landing graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Last season at UAB, he averaged 15.8 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, all while being a major paint deterrent on defense averaging 1.9 blocks per game.

Lendeborg could slot into the role Danny Wolf played last season, where Lendeborg plays as a pseudo guard. He has the ability to handle the ball and facilitate like a guard, all while occupying the 6-foot-9, 240-pound body of a forward. Wherever he fits in, he will likely be the focal point of the Wolverines’ offensive attack.

Junior guard Elliot Cadeau will be taking over the starting point guard duties for the Wolverines. Out of high school, Cadeau was the 12th-ranked prospect in his class and committed to North Carolina. Last season with the Tar Heels, he averaged 9.4 points and 6.2 points per game as their lead guard.

Cadeau is a pass-first point guard that elevates his teammates’ play. He can be turnover prone at times, but that’s the price that sometimes has to be paid with elite passers. He has also had inconsistencies shooting the ball, but showed marked improvement from his freshman to his sophomore season.

Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. is a quintessential Big Ten big man. While perhaps a tad undersized, he is still an elite rebounder and defender at 6-foot-9. He averaged seven points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 17.7 minutes per game last season with Illinois.

Michigan is deep at the forward position as well, but Johnson should still play a large role for the Wolverines, especially considering Lendeborg’s positional versatility.

Joining Johnson as another intra-conference transfer, junior center Aday Mara transferred to Michigan from UCLA. Mara stands at a towering 7-foot-3 and is quite lanky, and even at his size, he exhibits nice footwork and touch on the post. Last season with the Bruins, the Spain native averaged 6.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 13 minutes per game.

Only time will tell how May will configure his rotation of big men, regardless, Mara will certainly be a big part of that cast.

Bouncing back from last week’s loss to USC, Michigan (5-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) convincingly handled Washington (5-2, 2-2) by a score of 24-7.

After a rough showing last week at USC, the Wolverines offense looked the best it had all season. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood threw 21 of 27 for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall took over lead running back duties with Justice Haynes sidelined with injury and had a great day, running for 133 yards and a touchdown on 25 attempts.

Michigan’s defense was quite staunch as well. Washington’s offense is one of the most prolific in the Big Ten, and the Wolverines held the Huskies to just seven points.

The scoring was naught for the first 14 minutes of the first quarter. Michigan turned in a three-and-out and a turnover on downs on its first two possessions, and the Huskies punted and missed a field goal on theirs. Washington looked more comfortable on offense, but it still had zero points to show for it.

The Wolverines finally broke the seal on the final full drive of the first quarter. Working with pace, Underwood and Marshall led Michigan on a seven-play, 80-yard drive, capped off by a 22-yard touchdown reception from freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh, giving Michigan a 7-0 lead.

Michigan’s defense continued to bend, but not break. For the third time in three drives, the Huskies worked into plus territory, but came away empty-handed. Especially considering the high-powered nature of Washington’s offense, the zero on the scoreboard in the second quarter was a luxury. But the Wolverines could not take advantage, as senior kicker Dominic Zvada hooked a 48-yarder wide left. With just over five minutes left in the half, the score remained 7-0 in favor of Michigan.

The Huskies finally broke their scoring drought on the final series of the first half. The 13-play, 70-yard touchdown drive knotted up that score at seven apiece heading into the break.

Michigan’s defense didn’t falter out of halftime, however, immediately forcing Washington’s first three-and-out of the game. But once again, the offense just couldn’t take advantage. The Wolverines put together a good drive, but they went for a fourth down conversion on the 6-yard line, and for the second time this game, they were denied and came away with no points.

As the third quarter wound down, it seemed as though the fourth quarter would start with a 7-7 tie. Michigan punted with 1:30 left in the quarter and put the Huskies at their own 18-yard line. But on the first play of the drive, sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan came away with his second interception of the year.

And the Wolverines immediately cashed in. On the first play of the drive, Marshall broke off a 14-yard touchdown run to put Michigan up 14-7.

Michigan’s flurry of big plays wasn’t over yet. Washington picked up back-to-back 17-yard receptions to push the ball into plus territory. But once again, the Wolverines defense came up big.

Whether it was a miscommunication or a bad throw, Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. missed his target, and the ball flew right into senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder‘s hands for Williams’ second interception in four plays.

The Wolverines offense capitalized once again. The biggest play of the drive came on a third-and-11 on their own 47-yard line. Underwood was under pressure and was on his back foot, but he remained calm and threw a dot to junior tight end Deakon Tonielli for a 28-yard conversion.

Another junior tight end, this time Zack Marshall, capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception to make the score 21-7 in Michigan’s favor with 10 minutes to play.

On the ensuing drive, the Huskies needed points, and fast. But Michigan’s defense did what it had all day and held strong against the Washington attack. The Wolverines didn’t allow a first down and forced a fumble on a fourth-and-3, which the Huskies recovered on their own 17-yard line.

Michigan cashed in with a field goal, making it a three-possession game and all but sealing the Wolverine victory. But for good measure, sophomore defensive back Jacob Oden came down with Michigan’s third interception of the second half, icing the game for good.

Michigan ran out the clock and completed the bounce back win to improve to 5-2 on the season, and 3-1 in the Big Ten.

Michigan and Washington converged at the pinnacle of college football. 

In Houston, Texas, the Wolverines and Huskies duked it out in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, with Michigan ultimately taking home the hardware by a 34-13 final. But for two teams at the summit of it all, the next year saw the two teams relegated to the throes of relative mediocrity.

Both teams lost their head coaches before the 2024 season. The Huskies’ former head coach Kalen DeBoer took over at Alabama, and former Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh fled college football in favor of a position as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL.

Both teams lost their starting quarterbacks — both of whom were taken in the Top 10 of the 2024 NFL draft — alongside a plethora of other key players either to the transfer portal, graduation, or the NFL Draft. The result of all this movement was two relatively disappointing seasons from the top two teams of 2024.

Washington fared the worst of the two squads. It brought in Jedd Fisch from Arizona to assume head coaching duties, and he brought several players and coaches with him. Even coming off of a national championship appearance, the Huskies weren’t expected to be elite and were picked 10th in the conference in the preseason Big Ten poll.

At the end of the year, Washington slotted in at 11th in the Big Ten. It was the Huskies first year in the conference and it didn’t go quite as they wanted. They finished 4-5 in conference play and 6-7 overall, losing their bowl game to Louisville. With its head coach gone and the bulk of its top-tier talent gone, Washington was a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team in 2024.

Michigan suffered a similar fate, albeit with a much more satisfying end. After Harbaugh’s departure, the Wolverines searched internally for his successor, eventually landing on former offensive coach Sherrone Moore. 

On the back of the conference’s worst passing offense, Michigan finished 2024 seventh in the Big Ten with a 5-4 conference record. The Wolverines salvaged what could have been a very poor season with three straight wins to finish the season: a blowout over Northwestern, followed by two shocking victories over Ohio State and Alabama.

Interestingly, though, less than a year after the two teams met in the National Championship game, the 2024 bout between the Wolverines and the Huskies was the beginning of the end for Michigan’s 2024 playoff hopes.

Entering the game at 4-1, Michigan was ranked No. 10 in the country. To that point, its only loss was to then-No. 3 Texas, and it had a victory over then-No. 11 USC. But when the Wolverines took on Washington in Seattle, they fell apart, kicking off a 1-4 stretch with a 27-17 loss at the hands of the Huskies before the strong finish to the season.

For both programs, 2025 has been a much-improved year. Both teams received votes in the most recent AP Poll, and both believe they can be legitimate players in the Big Ten. In the season-and-a-half that has elapsed since Michigan and Washington met in the national championship game, they’ve mirrored each other in a lot of ways: both endured a relatively disappointing season in 2024, and both have experienced a resurgence of sorts thus far in 2025.

A win for either team on Saturday will set the winner up very well moving forward in conference play, and leave the loser in a tricky spot in the Big Ten standings. Not only is it a championship rematch with pride attached to it, it’s a measuring stick game that will be telling of the state of each program.