There's no doubt that the Michigan football team got its season back on track with a win over Washington last week.
However, a loss to Michigan State would erase that "big win" over the Huskies. Any loss before Ohio State would essentially knock the Wolverines out of the College Football Playoff picture.
As it stands, they need to make up some ground in the rankings over the next four weeks. There aren't any overly impressive opponents, although Northwestern is 5-2. The goal is to just survive and advance to the next week.
Three of the next four games are on the road. With a freshman quarterback, navigating that won't be easy. It's hard to win in the Big Ten, especially away from home.
That journey starts this week with a road test against Michigan State. Here are the six biggest questions facing the Wolverines ahead of Michigan State.
Can Michigan football avoid the trap?
This the definition of a trap game. There isn't anything to look past this week, as in there isn't a game next week to worry about, but Michigan is fresh off its most impressive win of the season.
The Wolverines can't be overconfident. Michigan State has dropped three straight games. Aidan Childes has struggled and the defense has been atrocious.
But things don't have to make sense in rivalry games. Remember 2020? Michigan was a massive favorite, and also massively overrated, and lost the game.
Michigan is a young team. It also has some veteran leadership. They need to count on those guys this week because as long as the Wolverines have their heads on straight, they should win by multiple scores.
Can Michigan contain Aidan Chiles?
The best chance Michigan State has of winning this game is if Aidan Chiles, the redshirt sophomore, has the game of his life.
The former four-star quarterback is a talent. He's a true dual-threat with 10 touchdown passes this season compared to just three interceptions. Chiles is much more mature and makes better decisions.
Chiles averages 180 passing yards per game. That's in part because he was held under 100 in back-to-back games against UCLA and Nebraska. However, he's coming off his best game of the season, completing 27 of 33 passes for 243 yards against Indiana and a touchdown (zero interceptions). He also ran for 48 yards.
The Spartans only scored 13 points and surrendered 38. But Michigan's offense also isn't Indiana's. Chiles can be dangerous. He's taking care of the ball better this season, and hemming in Chiles as a runner, while applying pressure on him is the key.
Chiles struggles to throw under pressure. So if Michigan can contain the rushing yards, as it did with Demond Williams, it should be able to keep Chiles in check.
Which Marsh will make a bigger impact?
Andrew Marsh for Michigan and Nick Marsh of Michigan State are two of the most dynamic players in this game, and they each play wide receiver.
Michigan football fans are dreaming that there will be two Marshes on the roster next season. We all know the Wolverines need another wideout. And if Smith doesn't survive the season, Marsh could be looking to transfer, plus he knows Bryce Underwood very well.
At any rate, Michigan football will have to stick with the reality that it needs to defend Marsh on Saturday, which Sherrone Moore acknowledged on Monday is difficult to do.
Marsh is a sophomore with 404 yards receiving. He's got 36 receptions and five touchdowns after hauling in 41 passes for 649 yards and three scores as a freshman.
The 6-foot-3, 201-pound wideout is one of two MSU receivers to have over 400 yards. Omar Kelly is the other. But Marsh is the guy you worry about. Like Donaven McCulley, he's great at contested catches. Jyaire Hill needs to have a good night and he will need some safety help.
Michigan's Marsh, on the other hand, is a true freshman from Katy, Texas, who looks like a superstar. Over the past three games against Wisconsin, USC and Washington, Marsh has caught 15 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
That's an average of 89 yards per game. If Marsh did that over 12 games, it would 1,068 yards. Whether it's deep balls, screens, whatever, Marsh is a dude. We saw the brillant one-handed catch last week, as well as a screen pass that went for a touchdown.
Michigan State has two talented wide receivers but so does Michigan and each has the ability to change the game with one play.
Can Michigan make MSU one-dimensional?
Defense is a lot easier when the opposing team can't run the football. We saw the difference between USC and Washington.
The Trojans were able to run for 224 yards. Washington only managed 40. Michigan did get some sack yardage but the Wolverines also stonewalled the Washington running game.
The Huskies average 167 rushing yards per game. That makes it even more impressive that Michigan held them to 40. The Spartans average 123 yards. They are 14th in the Big Ten in rushing yards.
Michigan football is allowing just 91 yards per game and three yards per attempt. USC and Oklahoma rushed for over 100 yards, but nobody else has. The Spartans wil need to run the ball to have a chance on Saturday, and if they can't, it will be a long day for Chiles.
Can Michigan's offense produce on the road?
The Wolverines have three road games left and if they are going to keep their playoff hopes alive long enough to play Ohio State, they will need to score more points on the road.
To be fair, the road games against USC, Oklahoma, and Nebraska haven't been easy. Yet the Wolverines are scoring just over 18 points per game. Twice, they were limited to 13 points, although they did score 30 in Lincoln in Underwood's first Big Ten road game.
The environment shouldn't bother Bryce. Michigan will have a first-time starter at left tackle, but this team should be more seasoned on the road. It will need to be, because another 13-point effort won't cut it.
Against an inferior team, Michigan can't afford another slow start.
Can Michigan handle the X-factors?
Michigan has struggled on special teams this season. Dominic Zvada missed another field goal on Saturday. He hasn't been automatic this season, although I'm sure he'll work out the kinks.
That being said, a missed field goal could be critical in this game. Punting has been up and down. Field position is always important, and the Wolverines can't afford to give the Spartans a short field. They at least need to do it as little as possible.
That also means taking care of the ball. Michigan State will have a tough time driving the length of the field on Michigan's defense. As talented as Underwood is, his best trait so far this season has been the way he's protected the ball.
Michigan has just five giveaways in seven games. Underwood has three, including just two interceptions on 181 attempts. And they were both passes he threw up for Donaven McCulley, and on the second, it would have been a catch or incompletion if McCulley hadn't been held.
If Underwood shines, Michigan football will roll. But as long as he keeps taking care of the ball, Michigan should win, even if he isn't spectacular.