Michigan Football: 5 players who need to step up against Wisconsin

Games like this are why Michigan got Shea Patterson

It’s not that Shea Patterson needs to step up, because he has been playing lights out in recent weeks, but now he needs to prove he can do it in a big game.

Patterson wasn’t bad against Notre Dame and looking back, winning that game was a big ask. Stanford got trucked by the same team that Michigan football easily could have beaten. If the Wolverines had been just more efficient in the red zone and not missed a field goal, it could have been a different story.

Patterson was 20-of-30 for 227 yards in that game, but his interception and fumble on the final drive are what doomed his first career start at UM. Yet, it was the first game in a new system, with new receivers and a new offensive line, on the road, against a top-5 team with an elite defense.

That being said, Wisconsin is no slouch and ranks second behind Michigan in the Big Ten in total defense. The Badgers will get after Patterson and even if the offensive line struggles, he will need to show some of the magic he has in recent weeks with his legs.

Honestly, Patterson doesn’t have to work miracles, he just needs to convert third downs, avoid turnovers and find a way to score 20-some points.