Michigan Wolverines get exactly what they need from one offensive playmaker in crucial Big Ten win over Northwestern

The Michigan offense struggled again, but breakout true freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh saved the day against Northwestern

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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The Michigan Wolverines are now 8-2 after yet another crucial Big Ten win on Saturday over Northwestern. They cut it close (winning 24-22), turning the ball over far too much (five on the day), but Bryce Underwood and company inevitably sealed the win with time expiring on a game-winning field goal.

Sherrone Moore’s coaching decisions continue to baffle. Bryce Underwood continues to underwhelm as a passer. Jordan Marshall and the running game has been doing their usual thing. However, the one surprising playmaker that is turning into the team’s offensive MVP is Andrew Marsh. His impressive skills were on constant display Saturday as he racked up career marks in receptions and yards. That development from Marsh and his chemistry with Underwood will likely make or break the season.

Andrew Marsh stats for Michigan this season

  • True freshman phenom wide receiver Andrew Marsh now has 565 receiving yards through ten games, good for 29% of Michigan’s team receiving yard total
  • Marsh now ranks inside the top 15 among all FBS wide receivers in yards per route run, just behind Makai Lemon, Jeremiah Smith, Hank Beatty, and Duce Robinson
  • Marsh grabbed 12 receptions for 189 yards against Northwestern alone
  • Marsh now has gone six games in a row with at least 49 yards through the air, averaging 89 yards per game in that span

Andrew Marsh has turned into the offensive MVP for Michigan Wolverines

Sherrone Moore had mentioned not shying away from the run game and leaning hard on the back of Jordan Marshall, so it was no surprise to see 34 carries and nearly 200 yards come from the running backs on Saturday. That much isn’t changing. It’s the core of Michigan’s offensive identity. However, to make that running game work, the offense needs to convince opposing defenses that there’s something to be scared of when it comes to the Wolverines’ passing attack.

That’s where true freshman Andrew Marsh has come up huge this season. He was already the team’s leading receiver coming into the Northwestern game, but it’s clear now that the team has no problem just featuring him as the go-to WR1 on every single drive. Marsh saw 15 targets from Bryce Underwood (who only threw the ball 32 times). He hauled in 12 of those receptions for 189 yards and kept the offense on track throughout the game, despite overall offensive failures elsewhere. Morgan now ranks top 15 in the country in yards per route run with over 500 receiving yards generated in the last six games alone.

Marsh did lose the fumble late in the first half, but he made up for it big-time later in the game. He made play after play throughout the game, but his drive-extending sideline acrobatics (as you can see in the post below) on a toe-tapping catch was perhaps the play of the game.

It didn’t matter if he was running wheel routes out of the backfield, catching go-balls in contested situations downfield, or making highlight plays on the sideline, Marsh just always had an answer when a play needed to be made.

Yes, it’s not great that Michigan turned the ball over five times (including two Underwood interceptions). Yes, Semaj Morgan is still a major problem any time he tries to touch the ball. Yes, the team needs to find some more answers at offensive playmaker and get Justice Haynes back healthy. Still, Michigan just keeps winning games, thanks much in part to Andrew Marsh’s breakout true freshman season. Michigan is going to need more of it too. They should be able to take care of business against Maryland, but if Michigan is going to have a chance against Ohio State they’re going to need a special performance through the air and on the ground. Marsh is likely the key to that success. Let’s hope he keeps it up.

We’ll be back with more Michigan Wolverines coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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