The Michigan Wolverines start Big Ten play this weekend in a hostile road environment at Nebraska. Maize n Brew staff members are back to discuss the CMU game, give some bold predictions and analysis for
Saturday’s game in Lincoln, and more in this week’s Roundtable!
What a game it was last weekend, with Michigan barely coming out victorious. Now that you’ve had a week to let things simmer, give us your overall thoughts and feelings on the team’s performance in that game.
Von: The offensive line played its best game of the season by far, and its best game potentially since the 2023 season. Greg Crippen had two incredible plays that helped spring two of Michigan’s three long touchdown runs, Jake Guarnera had another solid game at right guard — despite being the lone offensive lineman to give up a sack — and the protection as a whole held up nicely and gave Underwood time to operate, make reads, and provide running lanes for him when he had to take off. This is a very encouraging development that hopefully isn’t a one-game thing.
Andrew: The Wolverines are three touchdowns better than Nebraska, but if they don’t cut out the self-inflicted mistakes, there will be a few more losses on the schedule this season.
Matt: I’m satisfied with the win. Michigan played objectively badly and still won the game against a fringe Top-25 team. There’s work to be done, but I’m encouraged that even in a sloppy performance, this team is still good enough to beat a team like Nebraska.
Dan: If everything went right in that game, Michigan wins by 2-3 scores. It was nowhere near as close as the final score portrayed. The Hail Mary, Hillman’s penalty and Underwood’s fumble swung this thing much closer. Huge kudos to the defensive line and pass rush — they dominated this game. If they can play to their full potential, they will be a playoff team.
Grace: I liked that the team didn’t quit. Things continued to stay close and they came out and gave it their all.
What are your overall impressions of the team so far through the first quarter of the season?
Von: This team is vastly different, in a positive way, through four games this year than it was in 2024. There are clear upgrades at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and linebacker, while still being pretty dominant along the defensive line. The secondary has been a bit suspect, as has the offensive line, at various times in every game except for CMU, but I am pleased overall with where this group is at and where it’s headed.
Andrew: Like a suburban husband on an anniversary, very satisfied. The team has shown improvement on both sides of the ball, depth is emerging across the board, and of course, Bryce Underwood is remarkably ahead of schedule for a true freshman quarterback.
Matt: This Michigan team has some flaws, but none of them are glaring. The defense has fallen just short of the lofty expectations most fans had for them, while the offense has been slightly better than expected. It hasn’t been a pretty quarter of a season, but all of the Wolverines’ goals are still in front of them.
Dan: I think the Nebraska game was critical for forming this perspective, but the expectation should be a College Football Playoff appearance. The schedule is light, the defense looks like it can be dominant, and as the offense continues to figure itself out with Bryce Underwood, we’re looking at one of the top teams in the country.
Grace: This team seems like a team that’s going to continue to improve week after week. The offense definitely has the tools to help when/if the defense struggles.
Now that Michigan is on its first bye week of the season, what do you think should be a focal point for the team to improve on prior to its next game?
Von: Catching the damn ball. Drops have plagued the Michigan pass attack this season in every single game. The drops — 11 of them, to be exact, per PFF — have been infuriating to watch happen over and over again. Ron Bellamy, Soup Campbell and company need to have some conversations with their players and get them on the Amon-Ra St. Brown plan of catching 202 balls from the jugs machine before the end of every practice.
Andrew: Health. The recent injury report was staggering and Michigan will need to reassure several positions before this challenging five-game stretch.
Matt: Michigan has to be more disciplined if it wants to make noise in the Big Ten. Teams that give up Hail Marys, pick up unnecessary taunting penalties on third-and-long, and consistently jump offsides rarely succeed. The staff must button up all the loose ends and expect more discipline and consistency.
Dan: Bryce Underwood has to have a better connection with his receivers. There were too many times in the first four games were they misaligned. It was glaring in the Oklahoma game, and the drops against Nebraska left points off the board. That’s one of the main differences between this being a good team and a great team.
Grace: I still think this team could focus on some of the basics. Tackling at times has been hit or miss, and the offensive line still has some room to improve. If the team focuses on perfecting the basics, they have a good chance to run away with games, or at least winning the close ones.
Who are your offensive and defensive players of the first four games of the year so far for the Wolverines and why?
Von: On offense, it has to be running back Justice Haynes. He leads the Big Ten in rushing with 537 yards and is just one touchdown shy (six) of matching his season total for all of last year. Haynes’ long runs time and time again have put Michigan in positions to win games and is clearly the MVP of the offense so far.
Defensively, I might shock some people with this answer, but I’m going to give it to linebacker Cole Sullivan. He has made a huge impact all over the defense in four games this year — 19 tackles (fourth on the team), three tackles for loss two sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He has been an absolute monster, so I am really excited about what the future has in store for him once he slides into a starting role.
Andrew: It has to be Justice Haynes and Jaishawn Barham. Haynes leads the Big Ten and is third nationally in rushing, while Barham has plays football like a velociraptor driving a monster truck.
Matt: Justice Haynes is the easy answer on offense, as he’s rushed for 537 yards through four games and surpassed every expectation on the way there. Defensively, Jaishawn Barham has been a menace both at linebacker and on the edge. He has single-handedly made up for a lackluster start by the defensive line starters.
Dan: Offense: Justice Haynes. I knew he would be good, but damn, he’s looking like the potentially the best running back in the country. I’d love for Michigan to get him more involved in the pass game with the struggles at receiver.
Defense: Jaishawn Barham. Even though he missed two halves, his impact has been felt at both inside linebacker and along the edge. Moving to edge full-time is probably the right move and he’s only going to get better throughout the season.
Grace: I’m going to go with Justice Haynes on offense. He’s a dynamic back who has helped take some of the pressure off Bryce Underwood, and his confidence helps elevate the rest of the team. On defense, it’s a little tougher for me to say. Unlike the offense, it seems like the defense has a ton of pieces that are working together well. Still, I like Jaishawn Barham because he’s been living up to expectations.
Finally, give one bold prediction for what will happen the rest of the season for the Wolverines.
Von: I’m going to go really bold here (admittedly, I don’t believe this, but a bold prediction was asked for!) Michigan will go into the Ohio State game with just one more loss on its resume, likely coming from the game at USC in a couple weeks.
Andrew: Michigan has one or maybe even two more losses this season, but not to Ohio State.
Matt: Michigan will finish 10-2 and be on the razor’s edge for the CFP, as critics complain about the lackluster strength-of-schedule despite that not being within the Wolverines’ control.
Dan: Michigan makes the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff.
Grace: Michigan will have multiple wide receivers with 100-yard games by the time the season is over.
