The showdown between Michigan and USC on Saturday is fascinating.
Both teams are 4-1. Michigan football is ranked 15th in the AP and Coaches Polls, but the polls don't mean anything. The winner of this game will be 5-1 and in a position to push for the College Football Playoff.
If the Wolverines win this game, they could have a shot at being 10-1 going into the Ohio State game. That might be enough to get them in the playoff. But a loss to the Trojans would mean that Michigan fooball would need to win out, including Ohio State, to make it.
A loss won't be the end of the season on Saturday. It won't be for USC either. But the loser will need to run the table to make a strong case to the committee. You have two of college football's biggest brands and two head coaches trying to prove themselves.
Michigan is built on defense. USC is better on offense. The running game was the difference in 2024 for the Wolverines, and here are three reasons Michigan will beat USC again.
Michigan's running game
On paper, it looks like USC's run defense has improved. Yet, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary. For starters, Illinois rushed for 171 yards two weeks ago in their win over the Trojans.
Illinois scored 34 points after fumbling the ball out of the end zone twice. More importantly, Illinois averaged 4.8 yards per rushing attempt, much higher than than the season average.
The Wolverines are averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Justice Haynes, who is the Big Ten's leader in rushing yards (654), is averaging 7.7. He's gone over 100 yards in each game. Michigan is averaging 237 as a team.
Michigan rushed for 290 yards on the Trojans last season. USC believes that it has improved its run defense. The Wolverines will test it Saturday night and I don't think the defensive tackles will be good enough to stop Michigan football.