After an underwhelming game against Oklahoma, the Wolverines responded by beating Central Michigan 63-3 on Saturday afternoon. Bryce Underwood played so favorably that, apparently, a golden retriever could coach him. Truly a nice sentiment, but Michigan still has not shown what it can actually be, three games into the season.
It remains to be seen what the Wolverines' identity actually is. In certain moments, the defense seems dominating and domineering when facing opponents with talent disadvantages. In other moments, the offense and Byrce Underwood seem to find their way, and everything looks fairly easy. It's in those moments when Michigan looks like a viable team in the Big Ten. But dismissing their lackluster effort In Norman, Oklahoma, would not be futile. Against a team with clearly enough talent to compete, the Wolverines were clearly not up to the challenge, and Underwood, even with his high ceiling, looked very much like the inexperienced quarterback he is. What can you truly make of a team that resembles Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
Michigan football has still a lot to prove
Against Central Michigan, Sherrone Moore was serving the first game of his two-game suspension, which stems from the Connor Stallions scandal. He will also miss the upcoming road game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In the game against Central, the lack of their head coach seemed not to affect the Wolverines negatively, but will his absence affect the team when they head into another hostile road environment in Nebraska? Moore, serving a two-game suspension at this time, seemed to be a low risk, but sometimes a low risk proves otherwise. Was it a calculated approach by Michigan to choose these two games? Many would say yes. Will it lead to another road loss? That remains to be seen.
In a Big Ten, where Oregon and Ohio State seem miles above everyone else, the Michigan Wolverines fall somewhere in the middle. Like a team with potential but a team that is unsure of itself. Coming into the season, the Wolverines fans could have hoped for competitive quarterback play, some actual standing in the Big Ten and at the end of November, the continued dominance of their rival Buckeyes. But if any Wolverine fan was being honest with themselves, they desire to be at the top of the college football landscape once again. Especially since most of the outside world thinks the Wolverines cheated their way to a national championship. No better way to shut down a narrative then to have continued success that leaves zero doubt.
But after three games, the narrative still exists. Outside of the state of Michigan, nobody actually believes the Michigan Wolverines are worth any hype. So, the narrative continues.
After the game in Nebraska, maybe there will be a clearer picture of who Michigan is. Or maybe not. Maybe the picture will still be as fuzzy and confusing as it currently is.
Sometimes being a middle of a pack team isn't necessarily a bad thing. Flying under the radar can be considered good because the national microscope doesn't have its focus on you. But after winning a national championship, the Wolverines have seemingly found themselves outside of the national conversation altogether. Without the controversy, would the Michigan Wolverines even be relevant?
With such a storied history, what can anyone make of the present state of things? A shrug at best.