Mike Germanese
Writer
No. 21 Michigan (7-2, 5-1) is on bye this week, and after another disappointing win, the pressure is on the coaching staff to fix the offense. So far this season, the offense hasn’t been close to what fans hoped. From Bryce Underwood to the wide receiver, Chip Lindsey has yet to find a way to put a complete game together.
The 2025 season has been similar to 2024, with the run game relying heavily on it to carry the offense. It’s something that must be fixed with three games remaining if Michigan is going to have any shot of making the college football playoff.
Michigan, after not even being competitive in the two biggest games, put itself in a very tough spot: win out just to be in the College Football Playoff conversation, or lose a game and the season is over.
Sherrone Moore is feeling the heat after disappointing wins against Michigan State (3-6, 0-6) and Purdue (2-7, 0-6). Some have even called into question whether Moore is right to lead the program. Moore’s predecessor was given six years to figure it out before getting it right in his seventh. Many of those same people want to move on from Moore after just 22 months.
Time is running out for Michigan to make the 2025 season a success after two bad losses. Michigan is required to win out and do so in a very convincing way in its next two games. Because sitting at 21 in the first college football playoff poll left the Wolverines with the uncertainty that even if they win out, the playoffs still might be out of reach.
Bryce Underwood came to Michigan with a ton of hype and hasn’t lived up to that hype so far. In all fairness, the hype that surrounded Underwood was impossible to live up to. Fans wanted and expected Underwood to do what Trevor Lawrence did his freshman year. The problem, Michigan is nowhere near as talented as Clemson was. Regardless of the expectations, Underwood needs to be better than he has been.
In Michigan’s last two games combined, Underwood is 21-for-39, with 321 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. In the year in the Big Ten, Underwood ranks 12th in passing yards 1671, 16th in TDs 7, 12th in yards per game 184.7 and 15th in completion percentage 60.9. Underwood’s inconsistency has made Michigan’s offense one-dimensional again.
Underwood has been the true Freshman he is. The question is, can Lindsey find a way to make him more consistent in the final three games? Underwood has the talent to be a game changer, and he will be the truth is he’s just not there yet.
Michigan, despite having a freshman QBs and being one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten, faces CFP or bust. Michigan, like any top program, is faced with the reality that a season can’t be viewed as a success if it doesn’t have an appearance in the CFP. Beating rivals or making it to a bowl game doesn’t mean anything anymore.
The 12-team playoff has changed how everything from bowl games to wins in rivalry games are viewed. Top players opted out of bowl games, rather there head to the NFL or the portal . A bowl game is just to see what areas need to be focused on when the transfer portal opens. And when it comes to winning a rivalry game, No.1 Ohio State (8-0, 5-0) killed the meaning a year ago. If the game still meant anything, how could Day be handed a contract extension having lost the last four games?
Moore already has factions questioning if he’s the right head coach. Miss the playoffs for a second straight year, that faction will just grow. Moore was able to erase a disappointing year with a win over Ohio State and a Meaningless bowl win over Alabama. If Michigan fails to make the CFP even with a win over Ohio State, the fraction that’s calling for his job will just grow.
Tony Thomas
Writer
In the CFP quarterfinals, Indiana dominated Alabama, while Oregon wrecked Texas Tech
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