Michigan Football: The Familiar Tale Against Quality Opponents
For too long now, there has been a very familiar and predictable theme for Michigan football against quality opponents. When will it end?
When does Michigan beat quality teams? Really, when?
Related Story: Michigan can't run when it counts
The number of examples we have at our disposal of the Wolverines losing to—even flopping to—good teams in big games is startling.
The most painful and recognizable case is Ohio State for the last two seasons. Then there’s Florida State in last season’s bowl game. There are already three such examples in 2017: a night game against Michigan State, a road game against No. 2 Penn State, and now a road game against No. 5 Wisconsin.
At this point, the Wolverines’ biggest win through three years under Jim Harbaugh is a 14-7 victory over No. 8 Wisconsin in 2016. And without three missed field goals, the score could have been 23-7.
If you want to have an ugly discussion, what’s Michigan’s best win this season? Is it over Florida, a team that may not even make it to a bowl game? Is it Indiana or Minnesota, both of which are 5-6? The combined record of teams Michigan has beat this season is 34-50.
So when Michigan flopped against Wisconsin, 24-10, on Saturday, was anyone surprised? No. At least you shouldn’t have been. This is just what the Wolverines do. And even beyond just simply losing these games against good teams, there’s the added insult that it looked like Michigan was starting to right the ship. But again, that’s a familiar trend.
When the offense gelled against Rutgers, Minnesota and Maryland, we of course were fully aware that those three teams can make just about anyone look good. But Michigan was dominant, and that’s something it hadn’t been against lesser opponents earlier. In particular, the offensive line looked improved. What a great asset that would be against Wisconsin and Ohio State, right?
Right…
We were duped. Again. For the second time this season and third time in the last two years, a starting Michigan quarterback got knocked around and was ultimately forced out of the game because of injury. Poor Wilton Speight, it’s happened to him twice.
And the running game? Forget about it.
In three losses this season, the Wolverines have rushed for 103, 102 and 58 yards. When the quarterback also has to fear for his life, it’s easy to see how Wisconsin’s two successful drives were more than enough to put away Michigan.
There are many gripes about this Michigan team. They can’t win big games, the quarterback play is lagging, special teams is a liability, etc. But if one fix had a shot at really fixing this, it’s the offensive line. Run the ball and protect your quarterback. In the Jim Harbaugh/Tim Drevno philosophy book, those are the first two chapters, right?
This season’s woes come with a major caveat: Beat Ohio State and all can be forgiven. But that’s not even a legitimate possibility, especially if John O’Korn is going to be the starting quarterback. Never mind the follow-up to a legendary 2016 meeting; this one will look much more like the 2015 game.
But hey, at least Michigan isn’t having trouble running the ball on Rutgers.