5 things we learned in Michigan football's win over Wisconsin

Michigan football's win over Wisconsin on Saturday wasn't perfect. It wasn't a game that fans will remember forever, but it was an important win all the same.

In this new Big Ten, every week is a battle. Remember when people were asking if UCLA would win a game this season? The Bruins did, upsetting seventh-ranked Penn State on Saturday.

Any given Saturday in this conference. Wisconsin reminded Michigan football fans of that on Saturday after an opening-drive touchdown. The Badgers made it a game for longer than it should have been.

The Wolverines left a lot of meat on the bone. Still, 445 yards of total offense, with 270 passing yards coming from true freshman Bryce Underwood will win Michigan most games on the schedule.

There were still too many mistakes. That's not the biggest concern, though. We'll address that and more in the five things we learned in the Wolverines' 24-10 win.

Justice Haynes is the best back in college football

After the game Sherrone Moore said he felt "sorry" for the team that let Justice Haynes go, but that he was glad he was in Ann Arbor.

You can say that again, coach. Haynes has been a revelation. Saturday was the fifth 100-yard rushing game to start his Michigan football career, making him the first-ever Wolverine to do that.

Haynes carried the ball 19 times for 117 yards against the best run defense in college football. Wisconsin was allowing just 2.1 yards per game and 50 yards per game. Haynes averaged 6.2 yards per carry and had two explosive runs, including a 43-yarder in the first quarter when the Wolverines were down 7-0.

The offensive line didn't do Haynes any favors. There were a few times when there was a Badger in his lap almost immediately. That needs to get fixed.

Haynes is an incredible talent, though. This team might not be 4-1 without him.

The offensive line is a work in progress

The most disappointing thing on Saturday was the play of the offensive line. Andrew Sprague is a redshirt freshman, and he looked like it on Saturday.

Michigan's gap-blocking run game really had a tough time getting off the ground. Sprague was beaten numerous times on runs and pass plays. He wasn't alone, though.

Wisconsin does have a good defensive line. Let's give the Badgers some credit. There's a reason they only allowed 50 yards rushing per game. Michigan football still rushed for 175. That's not nothing.

But the pass protection was a problem, too. Bryce Underwood handled it well, yet he was under fire all day. It was better in the second half. Michigan also did a better job of getting the ball to its playmakers.

The offensive line was missing Giovanni El-Hadi, so there is room for improvement, but that front five needs to improve if Michigan football is going to make the College Football Playoff.

Rod Moore is back

Quite possibly my favorite thing about Saturday's win was the interception by Rod Moore. It was a great break on the ball and a sign that Moore is truly back after the knee injury he suffered during the spring of 2024.

Moore didn't just make one impact play, though. He made three. In the first half, Moore nearly had a pick-six. The senior defensive back recognized a tight end leaking out for a screen and broke up the play.

If he would have missed, it could have been a big gain. He didn't. Moore still has incredible instincts, something he showed on the interception, as well as a huge tackle in the third quarter on a reverse.

Most of the defense bit hard on the fake. Moore didn't and made the stop after just a few yards, instead of allowing Wisconsin to get back in the game with an explosive play.

Moore is only going to get more confident in his knee. The speed is back and he will be playing every snap on defense before long, at least should be.

Rod Moore is still Rod Moore. He's still a difference maker.

Bryce Underwood is coming along

Before the game, I predicted that Underwood would have his first 300-yard game as a Wolverine. That didn't quite happen, thanks to a few drops.

Underwood only attempted nine passes in the first half for 55 yards. Wisconsin controlled the clock early and Michigan wasted too plays running the ball up the middle instead of attacking the Badgers' weakness.

In the second half, Michigan threw 19 times. Underwood threw for 215 yards and a touchdown. Underwood completed 19 of 28 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. That's 67 percent. It would have been over 70 if it wasn't for multiple drops.

Maybe the Kendrick Bell drop is the only one that was excusable. The others have to be caught. Underwood ran five times for 12 yards, too. 282 total yards and zero turnovers.

The most impressive thing about the freshman is how well he takes care of the ball. In five games, he has just two turnovers. That's J.J. McCarthy-level ball protection.

Underwood re-ignited one of the worst pass offenses in college football last season. He's also exceptional at protecting the ball, which is a great sign moving forward.

Michigan has playmakers at wide receiver

The Wolverines don't have a wide receiver group on par with Ohio State's. However, the Wolverines aren't void of talent, something we learned on Saturday.

Donaven McCulley had a breakout game with six receptions for 111 yards. He also caught a 29-yard touchdown that showed what he can do after the catch. We've seen what we can do with contested catches.

McCulley caught a 34-yard pass on Saturday, toe-tapping on the sideline. He also caught a 40-yard bomb against Oklahoma. He needs more opportunities and Michigan fans are praying he keeps getting them, earlier in the game, too.

The same goes for Andrew Marsh. The freshman caught a 33-yarder in the first half. He had multiple receptions of more than 20 yards, just like McCulley. He made an acrobatic catch on the sideline, but also beat his man on a corner route.

Marsh, McCulley, and Marlin Klein. They need to be fed the ball. Hogan Hansen, too, when he gets back to 100 percent. There are some good options in the passing game, to the point that the Wolverines need to make them the focal point, at least when they aren't handing it to Justice Haynes.