Through four weeks of play, the offensive line has been arguably the most disappointing position group for Michigan. With the addition of well-respected offensive line coach Jim Harding and the return of every starter from last year’s team, there was some optimism that a group that was merely average in 2025 could take a serious step forward in 2026.
Instead, the opposite seems to have happened.
The struggles were apparent right away when it was clear there were some serious issues in the run game
during the Week 1 matchup with Western Michigan. So far, the Wolverines have been rushing for 149.0 yards per game and 4.0 yards per rush, good for No. 66 and No. 74 in the country, respectively. Some of that can be attributed to the running backs not being 100 percent healthy, but the offensive line is the table-setter for the run game. And without good blocking, it doesn’t matter much what your running backs can do.
Additionally, the group has continued to use different combinations of offensive linemen, something that helps determine who the best five guys are, but is not conducive to building chemistry among the group. The guard rotation of Nathan Efobi, Brady Norton and Evan Link got much of the attention the first two games, but injuries to tackles Andrew Sprague and Blake Frazier the last two weeks have muddled the picture at those spots as well.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the group, though, has been penalties. Michigan has had issues with penalties in all three phases of the game, but the offensive line has been one of the biggest offenders. Alignment penalties related to the Rhino position have been a major annoyance, while holding calls have cropped up to negate long runs from the backs on multiple occasions.
Harding has been doing his part to make sure his position group isn’t picked on as much. One point of emphasis has been making sure the linemen are coming off their blocks when the ball carrier behind them reverses field so as not to get dragged in the opposite direction by their defender to draw a holding call.
“You gotta feel it. It’s not easy. You don’t have eyes in the back of your head, but you gotta let him go because they’re calling that tightly,” Harding said of the holding calls, specifically in reference to one called on center Jake Guarnera on Saturday. “We have officials at practice. We’re asking them to be very aggressive in the holding calls.”
Being disciplined in this area is something the team is trying to emphasize, with Harding noting that 10 down-ups is the punishment for being called for a hold by the officials in practice. Although they don’t just pertain to the offensive line, penalties related to improper alignment and illegal formations have been a point of emphasis as well, according to Harding.
Something else that could help get the offensive line on track, especially with a handful of injuries, is more snaps for some of the younger players. Michigan got to see guard Avery Gach and tackle Marky Walbridge enter the game against Iowa and do a pretty good job with their opportunities. Despite Walbridge only being a freshman, he’s already someone Harding and the coaching staff can rely on in a pinch.
“I thought (Walbridge) did some nice things in the run game when Blake (Frazier) went down the other day,” Harding said. “He can continue to get better in the pass game, but he’s somebody at practice right now who plays right and left, so he’s kind of the swing guy right now. I do have confidence in him that if we have to get to that point, he’ll go in and he’ll battle, and we’ll be okay.”
Sophomore Andrew Babalola is someone else who could come into the equation in the coming weeks too, after Kyle Whittingham said he could be returning to practice soon.
While Michigan might not have as big a challenge this week against Minnesota’s defensive front compared to last week, the offensive line will have to make sure it’s on its A-game playing in a road environment for the first time this season. It will represent one last chance to shore up the issues that have plagued them so far before heading into a much-needed bye week.
