The goal is to win. Despite some very sloppy play and mistake after mistake, Michigan football found a way to leave Wrigley Field with a 24-22 win over Northwestern.
Survive and advance, as Joel Klatt said on the broadcast. Michigan survived, alright, only by the skin of its teeth as Bryce Underwood and Dominic Zvafa composed themselves enough to deliver on the final drive when the Wolverines had to have it.
Underwood delivered a third-down strike to Andrew Marsh. He also ran for a key first down, setting up a 30-yard kick by Zvada to notch one of the weirdest wins in Michigan history. Sherrone Moore even said it after the game, "You don't win with five turnovers."
Michigan football did, though. It's not a win that will impress the College Football Playoff committee. Some fans are starting to wonder if 10-2 Michigan would even make the playoff.
In my mind, none of that matters. Winning the next two games is all that matters, by hook or by crook. A lot of things need to be "cleaned up," as Moore always says. But 8-2 is 8-2.
Here are five things we learned from Michigan football's 24-22 win over Northwestern.
Bryce Underwood is still a freshman
Midway through the third quarter, Michigan football fans were on cloud nine when it came to their freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood. He was 18-of-24. Underwood threw for 185 yards in the first half and seemed well on his way to his first 300-yard game.
On that final touchdown drive for Michigan football, Underwood was dropping dimes. The RPO's were killing Northwestern, and it felt like the QB had regained his confidence. Then, there was an overthrow when Michigan led 21-16. It might have gone for a touchdown.
Then, he stared down his receiver on third-and-long, which led to an interception. Bryce had another interception, because he was baited into throwing on an RPO. The defender appeared as though he was going to crash down on the run, but took a step back, right into the throwing lane.
Underwood also mishandled a fourth-down snap from the shotgun, but by goodness, run a QB sneak under center for half a yard, with a Max Bredeson tush push. If Tom Brady can QB sneak, so can Bryce Underwood.
Despite all the insanity, Underwood got the ball at his own 37 and drove the offense to the Northwestern 13 to win the game.
The development arch was one step forward, two steps back. Then again, Underwood took another big step on the last drive. He overcame his mistakes and made plays in winning time.
That's something to build on. Bryce has also protected the ball well all season. Even with two interceptions on Saturday, he has five this season and has lost three fumbles. If you had told me before the season that Underwood would have eight turnovers through 10 games, I would have taken it, as would every single Michigan football fan.
Don't expect Bryce to have another quarter like that anytime soon, or ever. Despite the expected growing pains, all the signs of greatness remain.
Zero reason to worry about the development of Bryce Underwood. This is what freshman quarterbacks do. Watch Dante Moore as a freshman. Underwood is worlds better.
And he still drove this team 57 yards when it was needed.
Michigan needs Jordan Marshall back
Bryson Kuzdal did fine as the replacement for Jordan Marshall. He gained 53 yards, but his longest run was eight, and there were plays to be had.
The offensive line was blowing people off the ball following the injury to Marshall, which was devastating. The redshirt freshman just had his second explosive run of the game, following a 65-yard pickup earlier in the game.
Sherrone Moore said X-rays were negative. He hinted that Marshall could play next week. I don't know if Michigan can beat Maryland without him. I know they can't beat Ohio State with Marshall on the sideline, so we'll see.
The kid is a superstar. Injuries have cost Michigan incredibly in the backfield. Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall might be the two best running backs in college football.
Outside of Haynes, is there anyone you would want rather than Marshall?
The defense can't play with a lead
Michigan's defense deserves credit for the way it played adversity defense, outside of after the first interception from Bryce, but it's hard when the opposing team gets first-and-goal inside the five.
Holding Northwestern to three field goals was huge. Allowing a team that has rushed for 189 yards per game this season, to get just 61 was also impressive, especially after what Purdue was able to do last week, rushng for 138 yards.
Yet, Michigan had one sack. Derrick Moore was neutralized by Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern's prized left tackle, from Michigan, I might add.
It's easy to blame Underwood and the offense. There is no excuse for five turnovers. But, if the defense gets off the field following a 2nd-and-23 (after intentionl grounding) the game is over.
It was 21-9 at that point early in the fourth quarter, when the Michigan defense allowed three pass plays (32, 22, and 24) to be completed in a span of five plays.
The Wolverines also allowed Purdue to make the game interesting with a fourth-quarter touchdown drive, and things would have been more interesting without two fourth-down stops against MSU, after the Spartans drove the ball deep into Michigan territory.
For whatever reason, this defense lacks a killer instinct. Even Nebraska scored down 10, and was allowed to try an onside kick. Wisconsin, too. The coaching staff rotates too many players. That's part of the problem, although it seemed that it started happening less as the game went on.
Michigan's defense doesn't play well with the lead. It's been a pattern all season and it's a troubling one with two weeks to go.
Semaj Morgan isn't playable
It's baffling this is still a topic. Morgan made another huge mistake on Saturday, fumbling away a possession when Michigan led 14-6.
Honestly, you can't blame Morgan. He made it clear shouldn't be playing. It's on the coaches at this point. Morgan shouldn't play another meaningful snap for Michigan.
That was a true a month ago. Yet, he had to fumble again before a change was made, which is another sign that a change needs to be made at special teams coach.
I'm not sure it can wait until the end of the season either, although it will.
Goals are still on the table
This isn't really a lesson. More, just a reminder. It feels like the sky is falling for Michigan football. The Truth is, the Wolverines still have an outside shot at reaching the Big Ten title game. They are one of five teams in the conference with one loss or fewer in Big Ten play.
The others are Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon and USC. USC and Oregon play this week. Oregon would have to beat USC and lose to Washington, plus Michigan needs to beat Maryland and Ohio State to reach the title game, but there's a path, as remote as it might seem.
The first goal was to get to the Ohio State game, with all of those other goals still on the table, and if Michigan wins next week, that will be the case.
So as bad as it seems, the Wolverines are two great weeks from completely rewriting the narrative of the 2025 season.
At least they have the chance.