It all worked out in the end, but for a 10-minute chunk of game time on Saturday at Wrigley Field, it looked like Michigan’s record and reputation were in serious jeopardy. Playing in a baseball stadium,
Michigan didn’t so much battle the clock as it made the most of the opportunity it got late in the game to eventually earn the win by a 24-22 final score.
As one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten, making the most of opportunities has been a theme this year. Andrew Marsh has done that time and time again, but saved his best performance for the bright lights of the midwest’s biggest city, going off in front of a neutral-ish crowd and cementing his place as Michigan’s WR1.
Michigan’s passing attack had come under scrutiny in its past two games against Michigan State and Purdue, failing to find much of a rhythm and making the offense as a whole one-dimensional. After a bye last week, Michigan came into its matchup with Northwestern with a clear plan to air it out. It marched down the field on its opening drive, thanks in part to a 32-yard reception from Marsh down the right sideline.
The drive ultimately ended with zero points thanks to a holding penalty and missed field goal down in the red zone, but Marsh would continue his momentum on the second series of the game by accounting for 64 of the 91 yards Michigan needed to get its first touchdown. That included another long reception down the sideline while battling some tight coverage.
In the early-going, Bryce Underwood’s accuracy woes and indecisiveness seemed to have faded while the chemistry between him and Marsh was on full display.
“It’s something we’ve kind of been working on, especially since I got here in December. It’s growing every day,” Marsh said after the game of his ever-evolving chemistry with Underwood.
By the start of the second quarter, Marsh had already topped the 100-yard mark, becoming the first Michigan freshman to do so multiple times in a season since Roy Roundtree in 2009.
But Michigan’s offense started to falter as the game progressed. Leaning into the run game didn’t really seem to be an emphasis until Jordan Marshall broke off a 65-yard carry in the third quarter. He eventually left the game with an injury, pressing third-stringer Bryson Kuzdzal into action.
By being unable to move the ball down the field consistently in the second half, Northwestern was able to hang around and score early in the fourth quarter to make it a 21-16 game. An Underwood interception in Michigan territory allowed the Wildcats to quickly score again and take a 22-21 lead.
The Wolverines were fortunate with their defense, bowing its neck for the remainder of the fourth quarter to get the ball back a few more times. The first two opportunities ended in turnovers — another Underwood interception and a fumble on 4th-and-1 in Northwestern territory. Michigan got one more chance with about two minutes to go — in the bottom of the ninth so to speak — and that’s when Marsh came up big again.
On 3rd-and-10 from Michigan’s 37-yard line, Underwood delivered a strike toward the left sideline. Marsh swooped in to make the catch and drag his toe in-bounds for a 21-yard gain. The catch was his 12th reception of the day and gave him a final line of 189 yards.
“I thought he had a good day,” head coach Sherrone Moore said of Marsh. “With how he practices, how he prepares, he’s just taking that next step as a playmaker that we want and what we want to see on the outside.”
Marsh continued his trend of great play, as Michigan has now managed to win five games in a row since its loss to USC in early October. He’s proven even at his young age that he’s the most reliable target on the team and is capable of taking over games, or being a good safety valve for Underwood at the very least. He’s earning a bigger and bigger role that should serve Michigan well in the short and long term.
“It means the world to me, just to be able to have a chance, opportunity to come out with the team,” Marsh said of the coaching staff’s trust in him. “I work hard every week, just having an opportunity to do something like that.”
Despite the late-game barrage of turnovers, the offense showed it’s made some strides in the pass game and looks to be in a slightly better place than it was two weeks ago against Purdue. Underwood looked comfortable again and got back to leading drives with on-time and perfectly placed throws early in the game. But things will have to keep improving if the Wolverines hope to win their fifth in a row against Ohio State in two weeks. For now, Michigan and its fans can be assured they have a pass-catcher that looks to be special again.
