The first four games of the season weren't perfect for Michigan football. At the same time, every single one of the Wolverines goals is still intact.
Here are four big-picture takeaways from Michigan's 3-1 start.
Michigan did what was needed in the first 1/4 of the season
Michigan dropped a game to an Oklahoma team that looks elite. The Wolverines won't be punished for that by the committee. The win at Nebraska was key. Before the season, the road trips to Oklahoma, Nebraska, and USC, along with the home game against Ohio State, as well as avoiding an upset against Sparty, were going to be the key to the season.
As far as USC, Nebraska, and OU, Michigan needed to win at least one of those three games. The Wolverines have done that. Win the USC game, and they will even have some cushion to lose another game and still make the playoff.
The Wolverines couldn't clinch a playoff spot during the first four games, but they could have damaged their chances greatly, especially with a loss against Nebraska last Saturday.
They didn't do that. They rushed for 286 yards on and allowed Nebraska to rush for just 43. The score ended up being 30-27 but Michigan controlled the game. If it wasn't for a huge coaching mistake, it's a double-digit win.
The fact that Michigan beat Nebraska, without its head coach, and led by double digits most of the way, is exactly what you'd expect a playoff-caliber team to do.
Bryce Underwood has been as good as advertised
Box score watchers will try to act like Underwood has been a disappointment. He didn't throw for a ton of yards on Saturday, but he didn't need to. He also rushed for 61 yards and scored on a 38-yard touchdown to give Michigan an early 10-0 lead.
There was one fumble. Ok. But there have been just two turnovers in four games. That's elite. That's J.J. McCarthy right there.
If Underwood can do that for the next three years, and run the ball like he has the past two weeks, Michigan football will win a lot of games.
Eventually, the Wolverines will put more on his plate. You have to hope his receivers will start catching the ball, because almost 1/5 of his attempts were dropped against Nebraska. No wonder the passing numbers were ho-hum.
Yet, if you listen to anyone who knows the position, they can't stop signing Underwood's praises. He can make every throw. He's a freakish athlete and the arm is out of this world. He's shown all the intangibles from that first 3-and-14 he ripped against New Mexico.
The rest of this season is going to be fun, and we haven't seen anywhere close to the best we will get from Bryce Underwood this season.
Just wait till the lights go on and things slow down.
Justice Haynes has changed the upside of this team
Jordan Marshall looked really good against Nebraska. He looked like an All-Big Ten caliber back. Yet, through four games, Justice Haynes might be the best running back in college football.
It's hard to argue that anyone has been better. He hasn't just beaten up on weak teams either. Haynes had 75-yard touchdown runs aginst Nebraska and Oklahoma. He's got four runs of 50 yards or more, and is averaging 8.1 yards per attempt.
Haynes has been so productive that against Nebraska, with his 149-yard effort, he became the first Michigan football running back to start his U-M career with four straight 100-yard games.
Haynes is on pace for over 1,600 yards. Heck, he could even work his way into the Heisman conversation, at least he should, if he keeps running the ball the way he has.
The defense is getting there
If Michigan didn't allow Nebraska to attempt a Hail Mary before the half, or allow a drive to continue with a really bad personal foul penalty, the Huskers might have been held to 20 points or less.
Most weeks that will be good enough to get it done. There are some other mobile quarterbacks to worry about, but moving Jaishawn Barham to EDGE was a game-changer for the defense. He's leading the team in sacks and could probably reach double digits. He's that good.
Cole Sullivan has taken a huge step forward, plus Rod Moore is back. Jayden Sanders and Shamari Earls have each held up well as freshman. Zeke Berry should come back, and with Moore getting more comfortable each week, the secondary should only get better.
Maybe the most encouraging thing from the Nebraska game was the way Rayshaun Benny and Derrick Moore got after it. If the defensive line, which got 33 pressures against Nebraska, can play with that intensity each and every week, it will dominate.
Concerns are still concerns
Going into the season, there were concerns about offensive tackle and wide receiver. Four games in, those are still issues for Michigan football.
Donaven McCulley is a solid piece. The 6-foot-5 former quarterback is just going to face a lot of attention, and some others need to start making plays more consistently, such as Channing Goodwin, who has had issues with drops.
Getting Hogan Hansen healthy is paramount. He could be a difference-maker in the passing game. Marlin Klein is another.
Andrew Marsh has a ton of potential, but we'll see how much he's used as the season goes along after some freshman mistakes in the first few games. The talent is undeniable, though.
Evan Link has held up fine at left tackle. Andrew Babalola probably would have been better, at least as the season goes along, but Link is better than he was at right tackle
Andrew Sprague looks like a player. Greg Crippen played like an All-Big Ten center against Nebraska. If that continues, and more wideouts make plays for Underwood, Michigan could be dangerous.
In many ways, it already is.