The Michigan football team probably can't wait to get back on the field after a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma last Saturday that didn't represent the Wolverines very well.
This team has warts. But it's better than the Michigan team we saw last Saturday. With a freshman quarterback, there was always going to be growing pains, along with the chance to be much better at the end of the season, than at the beginning.
That's still the goal. Michigan didn't miss the playoff because of the loss. The Wolverines need to finish 10-2 with a win over Ohio State. Do that and this team will have a strong chance to make the 12-team playoff.
That's probably too high an aspiration after Week 2. We still have a lot to learn about the Wolverines, though, and here are three things Michigan football needs to accomplish this week beyond just winning the game as a 27.5-point favorite.
Let Bryce be Bryce
Michigan is smart to try and protect Bryce Underwood. Yet, there are better ways to do it than running the ball into stacked boxes repeatedly.
Underwood is a young quarterback. He's going to make mistakes. He's also going to make special plays, if the Wolverines will allow him to be a playmaker.
It makes sense to call plays like the 2021 team. Or it did. This offensive line isn't as good. Neither is the defense, the running game, or the punter for that matter.
Bryce Underwood will have to play well for Michigan to win its most important games. Oklahoma loaded the box. Instead of throwing on first down to loosen things up or at least attack where the defense was vulernable, Michigan kept trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.
Running the ball with Underwood would help but Michigan does have to be careful. What it really needs to do is open up the offense, and let Bryce be Bryce.
There will be good. There will be great and there will be bad. The results will be worth it.
Cover the spread
Honestly, covering the spread doesn't really matter. It would just be nice to see the Wolverines play better than expected after that didn't happen in Week 1 or Week 2.
Bryce Underwood stole the show in Week 1. Still, the offense only scored 41 points, while the defense gave up 17, even if it was aided by some weird calls by officials and trick plays.
The schedule is more difficult than some realize. There aren't many guaranteed wins. It would be great to see this team get a shot of confidence. The offensive line, the defense, and Underwood could all stand to have their confidence boosted going into Big Ten play.
The spread doesn't matter as much as Michigan needs to not play with its food.
The offensive line needs to dominate
Michigan's offensive line wasn't as good as it needed to be last week. There's no debate about that. However, the scheme, and Oklahoma's plan made things look worse.
Michigan didn't really adjust and it's hard to block seven guys with five or six. Even against New Mexico, the Wolverines got more chunk plays than consistent gains.
Last week, more than half of the rushing yards came on the 76-yard touchdown run from Justice Haynes. Outside of that, Michigan only averaged 2.8 yards per rushing attempt, at least when Haynes and Marshall carried the ball.
That's not going to be good enough. The Chippewas (1-1) are allowing 99 rushing yards per game and four yards per attempt. Pitt had over 400 yards of total offense last week. 126 came on the ground. It's a respectabe run defense.
That being said, Michigan should be able to impose its will on Central Michigan. It will be worrisome if the Wolverines struggle to run the ball again. Jordan Marshall needs to get going. The offensive line could use a game like it had against Northwestern last season. That was a springboard to better things last season, and a dominating effort on Saturday could have a similar impact.