Tag: game preview

Preview: Michigan vs. Western Michigan

RUSH OFFENSE vs. WMU RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan was #2 in the Big Ten in 2025 with 210 yards/game on the ground and averaged the highest yards per carry (5.44) of any team in the conference, which might be surprising to some, considering the ho-hum season and general feeling about Michigan football last season. They finished with 33 rushing touchdowns (#3 in the conference) but played in only thirteen games, while the top two teams – Indiana and Oregon – played sixteen and fifteen games, respectively. The bad thing is that Michigan swapped out Justice Haynes (who transferred to Georgia Tech) for freshman Savion Hiter. Hiter is undoubtedly talented, but probably not quite as advanced as Haynes was in 2025. Meanwhile, Utah was #2 in the country in rushing (266 yards/game) and #1 in yards per carry (6.02), and Michigan imported Utah’s offense with offensive coordinator Jason Beck and offensive line coach Jim Harding. The offensive line is mostly new in 2026; right tackle Andrew Sprague is the only full-time starter returning in the same spot, with part-time starters Blake Frazier (LT), Evan Link (LG), Jake Guarnera (C), Nate Efobi (RG), and Brady Norton (RG) also playing quite a bit. Beck stated earlier this week that there will be a rotation at guard, presumably between Link, Efobi, and Norton, until they decide on a winner. Western Michigan went 10-4 last season and finished #2 in the MAC in yards allowed on the ground (126 yards/game). Their top three tacklers from last season are gone, but they return fifth year senior CB Jarvarius Sims (6’0″, 188 lbs.) and redshirt junior S Micah Davis (6’1″, 200), who were #4 and #5 in tackles last season. Davis was a walk-on at Michigan from 2022-2023 before transferring to WMU and will be starting once again in 2026. The entire front four consists of transfers from FCS Long Island, JUCO Kilgore College, Ohio State, and Ball State, and none of them is taller than 6’1″. The starting linebackers are fifth year seniors Domanick Moon (6’2″, 235) and Dillon Moore (6’2″, 223), who were both backups last season and had 23 and 19 tackles, respectively. The Broncos gave up 4.1 and 4.4 yards per carry last season to Michigan State and Illinois, and Michigan is a better running team than either. I expect the Wolverines to be able to control the game on the ground.
Advantage: Michigan

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Preview: Michigan vs. Ohio State

RUSH OFFENSE vs. OHIO STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan had a solid rushing effort last week against Maryland despite being down the top two running backs and ranks #10 nationally (223.5 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.59). Running back Jordan Marshall (143 carries, 871 yards, 10 touchdowns) should be back from the injury he suffered two games ago, while Bryson Kuzdzal (20 carries, 100 yards, 3 TD last week) had a bit of a breakout game and showed some nice speed, patience, and vision in his first career start. One key aspect may be the health of fullback/tight end Max Bredeson, who was in a boot by the end of last week’s game. The offensive line has improved somewhat in the running game, despite three redshirt freshmen starting. Meanwhile, Ohio State is #2 in rush defense (80 yards allowed/game) and #4 in yards allowed per carry (2.67). They have not allowed 100+ yards on the ground since week one against Texas. Senior LB Sonny Styles (6’4″, 243) leads the team with 62 tackles, followed by junior LB Arvell Reese (6’5″, 243) with 59. Junior DT Kayden McDonald (6’3″, 326) is a force in the middle of the defense with 47 tackles and 8 tackles for loss, and he’s been more productive than Detroit Lions 1st round pick Tyleik Williams was last season. Senior DE Kaden Curry (6’3″, 260) leads the team with 13 tackles for loss, and junior safety Caleb Downs (6’0″, 205) plays down in the box and has made 5 tackles for loss himself. This is going to be strength against strength.
Advantage: Ohio State

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Preview: Michigan vs. Maryland

MICHIGAN OFFENSE

• Passing offense: #102 (195.1 yards/game)
• Rushing offense: #12 (223.0 yards/game)
• Total offense: #41 (418.1 yards/game)
• Scoring offense: #68 (27.7 points/game)

MARYLAND DEFENSE

• Passing defense: #71 (221.1 yards allowed/game)
• Rushing defense: #104 (171.8 yards allowed/game)
• Total defense: #89 (392.9 yards allowed/game)
• Scoring defense: #61 (23.5 points allowed/game)

MARYLAND OFFENSE

• Passing offense: #64 (233.3 yards/game)
• Rushing offense: #118 (110.6 yards/game)
• Total offense: #103 (343.9 yards/game)
• Scoring offense: #101 (23.4 points/game)

MICHIGAN DEFENSE

• Passing defense: #47 (201.8 yards allowed/game)
• Rushing defense: #12 (96.3 yards allowed/game)
• Total defense: #17 (298.1 yards allowed/game)
• Scoring defense: #12 (17.7 points allowed/game)

ROSTER NOTES

• Maryland players offered by Michigan include: LB Neeo Avery, OL Aliou Bah, WR Jalil Farooq, RB Iverson Howard, DE Zahir Mathis, DT Joel Starlings, RB DeJuan Williams
• Maryland DT Joel Starlings was committed to Michigan at one time but signed with North Carolina before transferring to Maryland this season
• Maryland OC/QB Coach Pep Hamilton coached at Michigan from 2017-2018
• Maryland assistant WR coach Derek Kief was recruited by Michigan in the class of 2014
• Former Maryland all-Big Ten performer Will Likely is now a defensive assistant for the Terrapins
• Maryland players from the state of Michigan include: RB Nolan Ray (Birmingham Brother Rice)
• Michigan players from the state of Maryland include: DE/LB Jaishawn Barham, DE Devon Baxter, DB Jeffrey Chukwu, DE Lugard Edokpayi, DE Derrick Moore, DE Dominic Nichols, LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, S Kainoa Winston
• Michigan DE/LB Jaishawn Barham played his freshman and sophomore seasons (2022-2023) at Maryland

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED . . .

• On November 18, 2023, Michigan beat Maryland by a score of 31-24
• QB J.J. McCarthy completed 12/23 passes for 141 yards and 1 interception
• Maryland LB Jaishawn Barham (now playing for Michigan) intercepted McCarthy
• RB Blake Corum ran 28 times for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns
• WR Semaj Morgan ran for a 13-yard touchdown
• Michigan recorded 5 sacks and 2 interceptions of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa (21/31, 247 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT)

PREDICTION

• Michigan 31, Maryland 17

Preview: Michigan vs. Purdue

RUSH OFFENSE vs. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE
The big question this week is about RB Justice Haynes, who was seen in a walking boot earlier this week. He’s one of the top few backs in the country this season. Michigan is #14 in rushing (220.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.75). If Haynes can’t go, it will be Jordan Marshall (99 carries, 544 yards, 5 TD) and freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) who will likely handle most of the carries. The offensive line and tight ends are doing a fairly good job run blocking, especially considering three starters are redshirt freshmen. Purdue is #76 in rushing defense (149 yards allowed/game) and #61 in yards allowed per carry (3.95). Odom is a former defensive coordinator with a pretty solid track record, but the Boilermakers have been up and down, giving up 254 yards on the ground to Notre Dame and just 30 rushing yards to Minnesota. They’re led in tackles by senior LB Mani Powell (6’2″, 230) with 76 stops, sophomore LB Charles Correa (6’3″, 230) with 72, and senior S Tahj Ra-El (6’2″, 208) with 68. The team is #33 in tackles for loss (including 6.25 per game), led by senior DE C.J. Nunnally IV (6’3″, 265) with 7.5 and Powell with 7.0. Michigan has shown that it is committed to running the ball, and they should be able to do so pretty consistently, even if Haynes has to sit.
Advantage: Michigan

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Preview: Michigan vs. Michigan State

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #22 in rushing offense (212.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.78). The team took a little bit of a hit over the past six quarters without star running back Justice Haynes (95 carries, 705 yards, 7 TD), who missed last week’s game after getting hurt against USC. Haynes could possibly return, but the running back position is still in solid hands with Jordan Marshall (25 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD last week). It’s just not very deep since the next two guys are true freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) and walk-on Bryson Kudzdal (6 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD). Starting LT Evan Link will also be out after suffering a leg injury last week, so Michigan will be starting three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line: LT Blake Frazier, RG Jake Guarnera, and RT Andrew Sprague. Michigan State is #52 in rush defense (131.3 yards allowed/game) and #81 in yards allowed per carry (4.24). Against other Big Ten teams, they’re giving up over 39 points per game, 5.1 yards/carry, and 181 rushing yards/game. Junior LB Jordan Hall (6’3″, 238) leads the team with 51 tackles, followed by senior LB Wayne Matthews III (6’2″, 230), a former Old Dominion Monarch with 41 stops. Former Michigan DT commit Alex VanSumeren (6’3″, 295) ranks third on the team with 29 tackles. The only Big Ten team the Spartans have “stopped” on the ground is Nebraska (31 attempts, 67 yards, 3 TD), but that game included 5 sacks for 35 yards, so the true rushing numbers were more like 26 carries for 102 yards. In other words, Michigan should be able to run the ball pretty consistently even if Haynes is out.
Advantage: Michigan

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