Here is an abbreviated preview since this has been a very hectic week.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. IOWA RUSH DEFENSE Michigan is #91 in rushing offense (148 yards/game) and #97 yards per carry (4.1). The leading rusher is QB Bryce Underwood (33 carries, 156 yards, 2 touchdowns). Jordan Marshall, who is banged up, is the top running back with 34 carries for 135 yards and 2 TD. The next guy is true freshman Savion Hiter (24 carries, 83 yards, 2 TD), who may have to step into a starting role this week, followed by Bryson Kuzdzal (8 carries, 26 yards). Iowa is #11 in rushing defense (66 yards allowed/game) and #10 in yards allowed per carry (2.2). The leading tackler is LB Cam Buffington (6’3″, 238) with 27, and he leads the team in tackles for loss with 3. LB Jayden Montgomery (5’11”, 227) is second on the team with 2.5 TFL despite making just 8 tackles so far this season. Advantage: Iowa
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
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
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)
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
