Michigan Wolverines fans should be infuriated over embarrassing failures in rivalry loss to Ohio State Buckeyes
Sherrone Moore and company failed in every way imaginable as Bryce Underwood couldn’t get anything going in Michigan’s 27-9 loss
The Michigan Wolverines’ streak of four victories over the Ohio State Buckeyes ended on Saturday as Ryan Day and his stacked roster manhandled Sherrone Moore’s squad on Saturday, 27-9. Michigan looked like they were going to repeat their physical dominance on the team’s opening drive, but after that the Wolverines didn’t seem to have much of an answer for anything. Michigan fans should be infuriated over all the embarrassing failures in what should have been a much closer rivalry game. What were those ridiculous failures? Let’s dive in.
Michigan Wolverines failures against Ohio State
- The Michigan Wolverines managed just 163 yards to Ohio State’s 419 in “The Game” on Saturday
- Michigan’s offense converted just one third down on nine attempts and failed to convert their only fourth down try
- Michigan’s defense allowed five explosive plays of 23 yards or more by five different Ohio State players
- Bryce Underwood managed just 3.5 yards per pass attempt as Wolverines wide receivers were blanketed in coverage, completely helpless all game long
Michigan’s defense fell apart after small adjustments from Ohio State
First off, before breaking down all the absurd offensive struggles, the Michigan defense looked completely out of position quite often. The Wolverines did pick off Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin early because he forced a ball to a blanketed Jeremiah Smith, but after that the Buckeyes adjusted and it was game over.
Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith spent much of the first half setting up Michigan defensive backs on underneath and intermediate routes because the Wolverines were obviously committed to limiting the big play early. Unfortunately, whether at the fault of coaching or defensive back decisions, Michigan’s defense found themselves completely out of position on two huge touchdown plays to both Tate and Smith, and a handful of others to three more Buckeyes players. Five explosive plays allowed and over 400 yards of offensive given up isn’t going to cut it against Ohio State.
Michigan’s offense and Bryce Underwood were completely broken
As was already mentioned, Michigan’s first drive actually looked promising on offense. Jordan Marshall dominated early on a couple strong runs. He flashed a couple times later. However, after Ohio State began adjusting to the outside pulling run plays from Michigan the Wolverines simply had no other answer.
When Michigan needed to pass, their offensive line did not hold up well. Ohio State only tallied one sack on the day (from Kenyatta Jackson Jr.), but they were collapsing the pocket around Bryce Underwood all day and Sherrone Moore’s staff seemed to make virtually zero adjustments.
It probably didn’t help that Chip Lindsey’s simple route concepts early gave his wide receivers no help in getting open. That left Bryce Underwood looking at completely covered possible targets early and often. After Ohio State had taken a more substantial lead, Lindsey started opening up the offense with more four-or-more route concepts, but it was too late, and even then the offense seemed predictable. So much so that defensive backs knew exactly where to stack and close in on wide receivers late. For example, Davison Igbinosun’s game-sealing interception only happened because he was sitting on a predictable in-breaking slant as his teammate released to defend the even more predictable flat route from a Michigan running back.
Michigan’s offense seemed hurried, confused, and completely out of sync. The team’s best wide receiver Andrew Marsh finished with exactly zero catches for zero yards. Donaven McCulley was the only player who logged a reception longer than 10 yards all game long.
Rather than adjusting proactively to what wasn’t working, Sherrone Moore and company doubled down on running into stacked boxes averaging less than three yards per carry after Marshall’s first 36-yard gain. Then the coaching staff completely failed Bryce Underwood with lackluster passing concepts, allowing Ohio State to just sit comfortably on top of Michigan’s receivers. It was an embarrassing game plan with no answers for Ohio State’s skill edges across the board.
Michigan’s performance was easily their worst in this rivalry game since the 56-27 splattering back in 2019, and it could have been much worse if not for the snowy weather and a couple mistakes from the Buckeyes. Head coach Sherrone Moore at least owned up to some of the shortcomings following the game, but he’s going to have to make some major changes this offseason to make sure an embarrassing showing like Saturday’s doesn’t ever happen against against Ohio State. To lose is one thing. To have zero in-game answers or adjustments that do anything is another.
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