In life, your reputation will often precede you. Especially when it’s as loud and defiant as the University of Michigan’s. Coming off a sorely needed win over Michigan State last week, it feels fitting to revisit the words of the Wolverines in-game hype video ahead of this week’s opponent. Spoken by the late great James Earl Jones, the video plays before the start of every home game. It ends with the following,
“We have won more games than any team in the country. No one has won more. We believe in football – championship football. We shy away from no challenge or opponent. We bow to no man. We bow to no program. We are Michigan.”
In modern memory, never did this mantra hold more merit than last season, when the Wolverines recorded an undefeated season en route to claiming their first national championship of the century. Less than 365 days removed from realizing that glory – Michigan is no longer the hunted prize of college football, or even the conference they’ve ruled over convincingly for the last three seasons. Worse yet, a newcomer has emerged and taken from them that which they hold most dear: bragging rights over Ohio State…and claim to the title of #1 ranked in the country.
On Saturday, that very newcomer will descend upon Ann Arbor and trot onto the hallowed ground of Michigan Stadium. Unbothered. Unthreatened. The Oregon Ducks.
A top ten ranked side all season, the Ducks rose to the top of the food chain with their electrifying 32-31 win over the Buckeyes in Week 7, and have shown no signs of wavering in their dominance since – most recently throttling #9 Illinois to the tune of 38-9. Dan Lanning’s team was highly touted coming into the Big Ten, and with less than 30 days remaining in the regular season, they’re the favorites to hoist the conference title this season – a feat Michigan has achieved each of the last three years.
The picture for the Wolverines, despite retaining the Paul Bunyan trophy in the battle against their in-state foe, remains dire. The expression ‘moral defeat’ isn’t one you’d hear often, and I wouldn’t even suggest it’s applicable to Michigan’s victory over the Spartans. But the second half success of the offense, which appeared to find a rhythm by way of hybrid play at the quarterback position (Warren operating in the pocket + play action, with the occasional run from Orji to change tempo), can’t cover up the fact that Michigan State was the more physical team in this fraternal fracas.
The Wolverines won’t get to sleepwalk until the two-minute drill of the first half against the Ducks. They can’t afford to cede a 14-minute time-of-possession advantage to the visitors if they want to stay competitive against the #1 team in college football. And if they want to win this ball game, pressuring quarterback Dillon Gabriel is key. Since Week 5, the sixth-year QB is completing only 50% of his passes and producing less than 7 yards per attempt when pressured (per PFF).
If Michigan hopes to be competitive in this matchup, it will take a monster performance from Josaiah Stewart – PFF’s highest-graded pass rusher and overall EDGE defender, to disrupt an Oregon offense that is averaging 300 yards in the passing game. The health and availability of Will Johnson, who has missed the last two games with an injury, also factors greatly into whether the Wolverines secondary – which has struggled frequently this season, can slow down the Ducks.
Most importantly, Michigan has to carry over their biggest triumph from the win over the Spartans – producing touchdowns in scoring position. After failing to reach opposing territory on their first three drives, the Wolverines went on to score touchdowns on 3 out of 4 drives that reached the red zone (they settled for a go-ahead FG to end the first half). It’s what separated the team from Ann Arbor from their competition on a night that didn’t suggest they were ahead of the side from East Lansing in much else.
For any hope of a win against Oregon, Sherrone Moore’s Michigan will have to muster an advantage in an area where Lanning has separated from the pack – they will need to look like the better-coached football team.
Michigan hosts #1 Oregon this Saturday. Kickoff at 3:30 pm EST.
