Michigan’s disappointing football season took another turn for the worse Saturday night, as the Wolverines fell to Michigan State at The Big House to surrender the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the first time since 2021.
Despite holding the Spartans without a touchdown, Michigan couldn’t get anything going offensively. The Wolverines committed four turnovers, surrendered five sacks and failed to find the end zone until the final two minutes of regulation. Quarterback Tommy Carr struggled to replicate his
success at Rutgers, while Michigan’s offense as a whole managed just 54 official rushing yards.
The defense kept Michigan within striking distance throughout the night, but the Spartans controlled the clock for more than 38 minutes and gradually pulled away behind five field goals.
Here’s a closer look at how the Wolverines performed, according to Pro Football Focus.
Offensive team grades
Jason Beck’s offense took a significant step backward Saturday night, earning a 55.9 overall after posting a 78.8 against Rutgers the previous week. The most concerning numbers came along the offensive line, where the Wolverines posted a dreadful 40.0 pass-blocking grade and a 50.9 run-blocking grade. With Carr under constant pressure and the run game struggling, Michigan never established much of an offensive identity.
The Wolverines also finished with a 56.4 passing grade and a 60.6 rushing grade, which seems fitting for a game in which very little went right offensively.
Offensive snap counts (snap count \ overall grade)
- Travis Johnson — 28 \ 70.9
- Salesi Moa — 16 \ 65.3
- Savion Hiter — 27 \ 61.9
- Bryson Kuzdzal — 19 \ 61.5
- JJ Buchanan — 54 \ 60.5
- Brady Norton — 26 \ 60.5
- Eli Owens — 2 \ 60.0
- Tommy Carr — 56 \ 59.4
- Andrew Marsh — 56 \ 58.8
- Andrew Babalola — 21 \ 58.5
- Evan Link — 56 \ 58.5
- Deakon Tonielli — 5 \ 57.8
- Marky Walbridge — 21 \ 57.3
- Jake Guarnera — 56 \ 56.3
- Nathan Efobi — 56 \ 54.0
- Hogan Hansen — 6 \ 53.3
- Channing Goodwin — 6 \ 53.0
- Jalen Hoffman — 33 \ 52.8
- Jordan Marshall — 10 \ 52.6
- Mason Bonner — 6 \ 52.4
- Avery Gach — 9 \ 52.3
- Blake Frazier — 35 \ 46.4
- Manuel Beigel — 12 \ 33.1
Five highest-graded offensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Travis Johnson — 70.9
- Salesi Moa — 65.3
- Savion Hiter — 61.9
- Bryson Kuzdzal — 61.5
- JJ Buchanan — 60.5
Perhaps the most telling part of Michigan’s offensive performance is that only one player finished with a grade above 70.0 and that 16 finished with grades below 60.0. That distinction belonged to Travis Johnson, who led the Wolverines with a 70.9 overall grade. He reeled in three passes for 38 yards, providing the lone bright spots in an otherwise dark night for Michigan’s pass attack. Salesi Moa wasn’t far behind with a 65.3 overall grade despite seeing just 16 offensive snaps. He made the most of his lone reception, picking up 14 yards.
The running backs occupied the next two spots, although neither had much room to operate. Savion Hiter graded 61.9 overall and scored Michigan’s only touchdown late in the fourth quarter, while Bryson Kuzdzal led the team with 49 yards on nine carries. Kuzdzal also earned a 68.4 receiving grade, but the performance was overshadowed somewhat by his costly fumble.
JJ Buchanan rounded out the top-five with a 60.5 overall grade, catching two passes for 35 yards.
Five lowest-graded offensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Manuel Beigel — 33.1
- Blake Frazier — 46.4
- Avery Gach — 52.3
- Mason Bonner — 52.4
- Jordan Marshall — 52.6
Michigan’s struggles up front were impossible to ignore, and the individual PFF grades reflected just how difficult things were for the offensive line. Manuel Beigel received the lowest offensive grade of the night at 33.1, including an 18.6 pass-blocking grade. Avery Gach also struggled in pass protection, earning a 21.9 grade, while Blake Frazier finished with a 46.4 overall mark and a team-low 43.0 run-blocking grade among offensive linemen.
The problems weren’t limited to those three, either. Nathan Efobi had a 41.0 pass-blocking grade, and Marky Walbridge was at 35.6. It’s difficult to establish any consistency offensively when so many players are struggling to protect the quarterback.
Carr finished with a 59.4 overall grade, narrowly avoiding the bottom-five. After showing promise against Rutgers, Carr took a step backward against Michigan State, throwing two interceptions and struggling to generate much of anything through the air.
Defensive team grades
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but for as disappointing as Michigan’s offense was, the defense gave the Wolverines every opportunity to stay in the game.
Michigan State finished with 298 total yards and never reached the end zone. The Wolverines also generated consistent pressure on quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, with PFF crediting the defense with 20 pressures and three sacks.
The biggest issue was… drumroll, please… getting off the field. Michigan State repeatedly extended drives and dominated time of possession, leaving Michigan’s defense on the field for 76 snaps.
Defensive snap counts (snap count \ overall grade)
- John Henry Daley — 64 \ 86.5
- Zeke Berry — 67 \ 77.7
- Aisea Moa — 23 \ 72.0
- Troy Bowles — 68 \ 70.1
- Dom Nichols — 30 \ 68.8
- Jyaire Hill — 69 \ 67.4
- Trey Pierce — 45 \ 66.4
- Benny Patterson III — 38 \ 65.1
- Tariq Boney — 18 \ 64.9
- Rod Moore Jr. — 56 \ 63.9
- Chase Taylor — 39 \ 63.4
- Nathaniel Staehling — 46 \ 63.1
- Smith Snowden — 56 \ 62.5
- Enow Etta — 56 \ 61.2
- Jeremiah Earby — 7 \ 60.7
- Mason Curtis — 22 \ 60.6
- Chris Bracy — 74 \ 54.3
- Jonah Lea’ea — 44 \ 54.1
- Lugard Edokpayi Jr. — 2 \ 54.0
- Bobby Kanka — 5 \ 53.8
- Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — 7 \ 33.1
Five highest-graded defensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- John Henry Daley — 86.5
- Zeke Berry — 77.7
- Aisea Moa — 72.0
- Troy Bowles — 70.1
- Dom Nichols — 68.8
John Henry Daley was easily Michigan’s most impressive defensive player Saturday night, posting an outstanding 86.5 overall grade. Daley was a constant presence in Michigan State’s backfield, generating five pressures and two sacks on his way to an 83.6 pass-rushing grade. He also held up well against the run with a 72.9 grade.
Zeke Berry put together another encouraging performance, finishing with a 77.7 overall grade and an 80.6 in coverage. PFF credited him with allowing two receptions for zero yards, an impressive showing considering he played 67 defensive snaps.
Aisea Moa continued to make an impact in a rotational role, earning a 72.0 overall grade across 23 snaps. Troy Bowles also turned in a solid performance, finishing with a 70.1 grade while leading Michigan’s defense with an 85.8 in tackling.
Five lowest-graded defensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — 33.1
- Bobby Kanka — 53.8
- Jonah Lea’ea — 54.1
- Chris Bracy — 54.3
- Mason Curtis — 60.6
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng posted a 33.1 overall grade across seven defensive snaps. He struggled against the run and finished with a 45.5 grade in that category. Bobby Kanka also found himself near the bottom of the rankings, although his opportunities were limited to just five snaps.
Jonah Lea’ea’s performance was a bigger concern. Despite playing 44 defensive snaps, he finished with a 54.1 overall grade and a particularly poor 23.5 tackling grade.
Chris Bracy’s numbers were a little more complicated. He played a team-high 74 defensive snaps and earned an excellent 85.1 tackling grade, but struggled considerably in coverage where he received a 42.0 grade. PFF charged him with allowing 39 receiving yards on two completions.
Mason Curtis rounded out the bottom-five with a 60.6 overall grade. While he held up reasonably well in coverage, his 53.1 run-defense grade and 39.3 tackling grade brought down his overall mark.
