Fall football returned to Ann Arbor on Saturday when the Michigan Wolverines hosted the Wisconsin Badgers in a Big Ten matchup of two teams looking to establish their identity.
Coming off their first bye week following a 30-27 victory over Nebraska, the Wolverines welcomed back head coach Sherrone Moore after serving his two-game suspension. However, the news of the week leading up to the game was that wide receiver Frederick Moore had parted ways with the program. Moore’s departure might not look like a big loss, as his snaps through the first four games of the season were relatively scant, but Michigan’s depth at the position hadn’t inspired a lot of enthusiasm to this point, either.
The extra week of rest and return of Moore meant that the home team had plenty of time to either hone their game plan and get healthy … or accumulate some unwanted rust.
Michigan’s defense didn’t beat the ‘rust’ allegations during their first appearance on the field. Wisconsin’s opening drive spanned 12 plays for 75 yards with nine rushing attempts – concluding with a 5 yard run from Dilin Jones to give the Badgers an early 7-0 lead. The dismay for the Wolverines wasn’t just giving up a trip to the endzone to start the ballgame, but the way Wisconsin made it look so routine by regularly attacking the gaps successfully. While the program is undergoing a transformation on many fronts, one thing it can’t afford in any configuration is to be pushed around in the trenches.
Luckily, the offense mounted a response of its own. On 1st & 10 near midfield, the Wolverines sprung Max Bredeson for a double-team block inside against D-lineman Parker Peterson, creating a hole for a 43-yard run from Justice Haynes to set up at the Badgers’ 5-yard line, and ultimately tie things up at 7-all. Later in the first half, quarterback Bryce Underwood began to develop a rapport with wideout Andrew Marsh in the freshman’s first start of the season. Marsh, working against Badgers safety Matt Jung, hauled in a 32 yard reception along the sideline that led to a 40 yard FG from Dominic Zvada, giving Michigan their first lead of the afternoon.
An early bright spot from the defense, linebacker Jimmy Rolder is making the most of his opportunity to cement a spot in arguably the most distinguished unit on the Wolverines’ roster. Rolder led the team in tackles with seven, and proved to be capable of squaring up against anyone the defense needed him to jam on the line.
With a 10-7 lead coming out of halftime, Underwood orchestrated one of his better drives of the afternoon, continuing to build on his connection with Marsh by finding the freshman on a pair of targets for 39 yards. Bryce continues to be a dynamic playmaker when he drops back on play action or rolls out of the pocket, and that quality manifested on a 3rd and 9 throw to Semaj Morgan to give Michigan 1st & goal from the Wisconsin 9-yard line. But the drive stalled after a loss of three yards on a Justice Haynes rush the following play, and the Wolverines came up empty after a miss from 27 yards by Zvada on the field goal attempt.
Eventually, Underwood and the offense found their footing and do what Michigan teams often do – squeeze the life out of lesser opponents. The turning point came late in the third quarter, when Bryce launched another deep ball towards the sidelines, this time for his leading man, Donaven McCulley. The pass, covered by D’Yoni Hill, was originally ruled incomplete, but an official review resulted in the call being reversed to a catch for 33 yards. On the very next play, Underwood connected with McCulley in the slant, where the senior would hit the gas between the hashes and dust the aforementioned Jung with a shoulder to shed the only blocker between him and the endzone – resulting in a 29 yard touchdown that opened up a double-digit lead for the Wolverines.
Now playing with the benefit of a moderate cushion on the scoreboard, Michigan’s defense was able to pin its ears back and wreak havoc on the Badgers. Wisconsin, who handed the offense to Hunter Simmons after losing Billy Edwards Jr. from the lineup leading up to kickoff, could no longer pursue the run-heavy scheme that led to their early score. Simmons made his best throw of the day on the ensuing drive, connecting with Vinny Anthony II (Zeke Berry in coverage) for a 27 yard completion that got the offense out to their own 40. But on a 2nd & 6 near midfield, Simmons would again attempt to air it out – this time for Chris Brooks Jr, but the receiver was double covered and Simmons underthrew the pass.
The defensive back who took advantage? Rod Moore. In his first game back at the Big House in 16 months, the two-time captain claimed the interception of the game. Moore missed the entire 2024 season due to suffering a torn ACL in the preseason and faced a setback in his recovery due to a meniscus tear. He returned to the lineup for the first time since his injury in the Week 4 win over Nebraska, and the big play against the Badgers was a much-needed bright spot for a Wolverines defense that needs to see more big plays from their secondary.
With McCulley and Marsh opening things up in the aerial attack, Justice Haynes’ streak of 100 yard rushing games shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Michigan’s feature back would end the day with 19 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including a goal-line push in the fourth quarter that was set up by yet another big-time haul from McCulley, who notched six catches for 112 yards and a score of his own. Approaching the halfway mark on the season, the Wolverines have reached the point of needing to know who their playmakers are that can complement the dynamic play of their quarterback. If the win over Wisconsin is any indication, McCulley and Marsh have announced themselves alongside Haynes as being ready for the assignment.
Final: Michigan 24, Wisconsin 10
