Rivalry Week Part 1 is here! In this week’s Roundtable, we discuss last week’s disappointing loss, where Michigan football goes from here, bold predictions for the game against MSU and more!
The Michigan Wolverines are back at the Big House for the first time in a month, as they will host the Michigan State Spartans for in-state bragging rights and for ownership of the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Maize n Brew staff members have once gathered to discuss the game from last week, what the rest of the year should look like, bold predictions and more!
Last Saturday sucked for all of us, but we gotta talk about it somewhat. Allow this to be your area to vent about whatever it is that is grinding your gears.
Von: Cornerbacks being handsy, Jack Tuttle being a turnover machine, Tommy Doman looking like he’s a first-time punter, dialing up a third-and-one run play with … Donovan Edwards. Yeah, there are a lot that are grinding my gears after this game. From the head coach all the way down, that was an absolute failure of a performance. At this point in the season, this team is what it is. We aren’t going to magically see anything different or new from here on out, so we’re going to have to deal with mediocrity the rest of the season. At least the basketball team looks like it could be fun!
Grace: I’m still so annoyed about all of the turnovers and the offensive game plan every single week. I thought our offensive line initially looked better against Illinois, but Tuttle held the ball too long too often. They probably won’t fix anything this season, and that’s a shame because I still think this is a great group of players.
Dan: How did we get here? Even with the coaches and players lost in the offseason, Michigan’s defense should be one of the best in college football. Iowa has had this trademark of elite defenses and horrid offenses, and still win 8-10 games per year. That’s what I expected from the Wolverines this season. Yet, our offense is even worse and the defense, with many returning starters, is getting carved up game in and game out. It’s jarring and unfathomable how undisciplined this team is and how much they are underperforming individually, but especially because of their coaching staff.
Kellen: I am so sick of watching this offense struggle. I get more and more dumbfounded every game. There is no level of consistency, yet somehow everything is predictable. This team can’t seem to avoid turning the ball over. The persistence to use Donovan Edwards more than Kalel Mullings — one of the few bright spots on offense — feels downright dumb, like a baby trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. I don’t remember the last time I heard a receiver’s name on the broadcast. The offensive line appears to be made out of Swiss cheese. The Wolverines went from an efficient, ground-and-pound offense that helped lead them to a title to a complete joke in a matter of months. I can’t remember the last time I witnessed a reigning national champ become this nationally irrelevant this fast. I mean, the Paul Bunyan Trophy game is about to be on Big Ten Network for the first time in more than a decade, for crying out loud.
Let’s pretend we’re in Sherrone Moore’s shoes. Given there’s no shot at winning the Big Ten or making the College Football Playoff, how do you approach the rest of the season?
Von: Throw your true freshmen/other inexperiences players out there and see what they’re made of. Evaluate all your options for next season, even quarterback Jadyn Davis, and have a clear plan in place to be a legitimate competitor in 2025.
Grace: You think about how you can give your players the best chance to improve and compete. Instead of trying to establish an identity, why not try and win some games. Let Donovan Edwards throw the ball, run some other trick plays, etc.
Dan: Jadyn Davis or Jayden Denegal is playing and we are seeing what we have for the 2025 quarterback room. Across the board, I’m giving younger guys more snaps. Let’s get some game experience for guys who haven’t had the chance to prove themselves yet. Maybe there is a diamond in the rough for next year and beyond.
Kellen: As Von touched on in an excellent Sunday column that offered thoughtful, based criticism, it’s time to focus on the future. Play Jadyn Davis, see what Benjamin Hall is made of, play all the freshmen that haven’t already burned their redshirts. Have an honest conversation with the NFL-bound players like Will Johnson and Mason Graham to gauge how they feel about the rest of this season. If you can pull off an upset or two, fantastic. But otherwise, this is a lost season and it’s time to give the future of the program some reps.
Meanwhile, MSU is coming off a big win at home last Saturday to Iowa. They now come to the Big House looking for their first win in this rivalry since 2021. What must Michigan do to prevent that from happening?
Von: Don’t turn the freakin’ ball over. Jack Tuttle and Donovan Edwards helped Michigan turn the ball over three times last week against Illinois. If they don’t do that, Michigan would have had a legitimate shot at winning. Simply put, Michigan must not shoot itself in the foot against MSU in order to have a good shot at winning.
Grace: They need to play like there’s nothing to lose, as opposed to everything to lose.
Dan: It’s pretty simple, take care of the football and move the ball on offense. These two issues have caused their demise the last two weeks. It’s a lack of execution and poor coaching that have led us here. They have enough talent on defense to overcome this, but it’ll be much easier if the offense can even be below average. They are among the worst in the nation right now.
Kellen: You gotta force Aidan Chiles to remember how turnover-prone he is. In the second half of last week’s win over Iowa, he downright looked like an NFL quarterback, with superb footwork, touch on his passes and a general gravitas that had to have Sparty fans feeling fantastic. He looked probably as he good as he did all season last week. That being said, he’s thrown at least one interception in five of seven games this season, a ratio Michigan fans would kill for right now. Force him to make some tough decisions — with four-man pressure, not with a stupid, predictable Wink Martindale unnecessarily aggressive blitz — and pick him off a few times. That’s Michigan’s recipe for success.
Throw down a bold prediction or two for tomorrow’s game.
Von: Jyaire Hill takes a pick back for a touchdown.
Grace: Semaj Morgan scores a touchdown, while the defense forces a few turnovers.
Dan: Alex Orji is the starting quarterback and Colston Loveland has 10 receptions.
Kellen: At least three Michigan players, including one non-quarterback, will attempt a pass in this game.
Final prediction time! What’s the score and why?
Von (5-2): MSU 28, Michigan 24. I am incredibly pessimistic the rest of the way from here on out. The Spartans take back the Paul Bunyan Trophy and leave Michigan with even more questions than answers.
Grace (4-3): I don’t want to pick against Michigan in a rivalry game, but I don’t think I have a choice. MSU wins this one, 30-10.
Dan (3-0): The Spartans are building momentum while Michigan has lost two straight. The Wolverines are in serious jeopardy of losing this game. It’s going to be a tough watch as Michigan squeaks out a 16-14 win at home thanks to several field goals from Zvada.
Kellen (1-4): As bad as the Wolverines looked last week, with an advantage in the trenches and a few NFL players, I still think they win a close one, but fail to cover the spread. U-M gets a victory in what may likely be their most important win of the season, 24-21.