Michigan lost at USC on Saturday, 31-13. USC piled up 224 rushing yards, forced turnovers, and controlled momentum across the board. Michigan showed flashes but could not match the Trojans’ physicality.
Below are the player snap counts with their Pro Football Focus grades, as well as the top and bottom graded performers on both sides.
Offensive Snap Counts
Andrew Marsh – 56 \ 79.8
Jordan Marshall – 33 \ 73.0
Justice Haynes – 19 \ 71.1
Jake Guarnera – 59 \ 70.9
Andrew Sprague – 56 \ 70.7
Bryce Underwood – 55 \ 68.8
Evan Link – 59 \ 64.3
Donaven McCulley – 56 \ 64.1
Blake Frazier – 5 \ 60.5
Hogan Hansen – 24 \ 60.4
Jalen Hoffman – 1 \ 60.0
Max Bredeson – 21 \ 59.8
Zack Marshall – 3 \ 59.2
Jamar Browder – 2 \ 57.6
Channing Goodwin – 7 \ 56.4
Greg Crippen – 59 \ 53.2
Bryson Kuzdal – 7 \ 52.8
Semaj Morgan – 37 \ 49.9
Marlin Klein – 27 \ 48.7
Giovanni El-Hadi – 59 \ 45.4
Five Best Offensive Grades (min. 5 snaps)
Andrew Marsh – 79.8
Jordan Marshall – 73.0
Justice Haynes – 71.1
Jake Guarnera – 70.9
Andrew Sprague – 70.7
Marsh was the clear standout here, posting a team-best 79.8 offensive grade on 56 snaps. He hauled in eight passes for 138 yards and an explosive 69-yard touchdown. Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes each earned strong marks, with both grading above 70.0 overall despite an otherwise turbulent evening for the offense. The offensive line was somewhat of a mixed bag, with Jake Guarnera and Andrew Sprague making the most notable contributions in both pass- and run-blocking.
Five Worst Offensive Grades
Giovanni El-Hadi – 45.4
Marlin Klein – 48.7
Semaj Morgan – 49.9
Greg Crippen – 53.2
Channing Goodwin – 56.4
The performances of the tight end and interior line groups were particularly troubling. El-Hadi struggled mightily in protection, earning a staggeringly low 38.7 in pass blocking, while Klein failed to generate any kind of impact through the air. Morgan and Goodwin also had trouble consistently influencing the passing game against USC’s coverage. Crippen also had one of his weaker outings on the interior.
Defensive Snap Counts
Cole Sullivan – 32 \ 73.7
Trey Pierce – 29 \ 71.1
Zeke Berry – 62 \ 70.6
Troy Bowles – 15 \ 69.5
TJ Guy – 15 \ 69.5
Tre Williams – 26 \ 69.0
Derrick Moore – 36 \ 68.1
Dominic Nichols – 20 \ 67.3
Mason Curtis – 25 \ 67.0
Nate Marshall – 5 \ 66.1
Rayshaun Benny – 41 \ 64.8
TJ Metcalf – 64 \ 64.2
Jyaire Hill – 69 \ 62.7
Jordan Young – 5 \ 61.2
Cameron Brandt – 35 \ 59.0
Jaishawn Barham – 35 \ 58.2
Ernest Hausmann – 42 \ 54.3
Jayden Sanders – 16 \ 53.8
Enow Etta – 29 \ 53.6
Damon Payne – 19 \ 52.5
Brandyn Hillman – 35 \ 48.7
Rod Moore – 47 \ 48.2
Jimmy Rolder – 48 \ 44.9
Five Best Defensive Grades (min. 5 snaps)
Cole Sullivan – 73.7
Trey Pierce – 71.1
Zeke Berry – 70.6
Troy Bowles – 69.5
TJ Guy – 69.5
Michigan’s defensive bright spots were few and far between, but notable. Sullivan once again led the defense with a 73.7 grade, making several key tackles in open space. It’s worth noting both Pierce and Berry have routinely graded out with some of the best numbers on the defensive side of the ball each week, with neither grading below a 60.0 overall during any of the Wolverines’ six contests. Rotational pieces Bowles and Guy rounded out the group with solid efforts in limited snaps, both flashing good pursuit and tackling technique.
Five Worst Defensive Grades (min. 5 snaps)
Jimmy Rolder – 44.9
Rod Moore – 48.2
Brandyn Hillman – 48.7
Damon Payne – 52.5
Enow Etta – 53.6
Unfortunately, Michigan’s lowest defensive grades on the night came from players who saw significant action. Rolder (44.9) had the toughest outing of the group, while Moore struggled as well. Hillman also received a significant ding following a 28.8 tackling grade, while Etta and Payne both round out the bottom five after a quiet performance against the Trojans’ interior line.
Final Thoughts
USC simply imposed its will in this one. Michigan’s defense was unable to slow down the Trojans’ ground game, surrendering 224 rushing yards. On offense, Marsh’s 69-yard touchdown briefly gave fans something to be excited about, but the protection issues up front and misfires in the passing game undermined momentum.
Losing Haynes hurt early, stopping him short of what would have likely been another 100-yard performance, but that’s not much to hang your hat on when your RB2 played just as efficiently in his absence. Marshall, who rushed for 68 yards on 14 carries, even received a slight edge in grading over Haynes for each of the offensive categories that PFF hands out grades for (Overall, Passing, Rushing, Run-Blocking, and Pass Blocking).
Heading into next week’s matchup with Washington, the Wolverines will need to shore up their run defense, improve coverage in short-yardage situations and get more reliable play from the offense as a whole before their next challenge.
