After a big win over Nebraska, Michigan football has a bye week. The Wolverines were favored to win the game, but winning on the road is never easy in the Big Ten.
Last year's team struggled to do that. It also struggled to pass the ball. In that sense, Michigan football has already demonstrated its better than it was early last season.
The Wolverines are 3-1. They are ranked in the top 20, and every goal is still on the table. A big reason for their success has been Justice Haynes, who should be in the Heisman conversation, and the defense.
Bryce Underwood also deserves credit, though. Last season, Michigan football was 127th in yards per play. The Wolverines are scoring 35 points per game (47th), which is a 13-point jump from last season (22 per game, 113th).
Underwood isn't the only reason. But he's the biggest. Haynes has been spectacular, but he wouldn't have had the same success last season without the threat of the pass. Underwood is throwing for 183 yards per game and completing 57 percent of his passes.
That number is a little low. His receivers have also had trouble catching the ball, especially his fastball. Michigan averaged just 129 passing yards last season.
So Underwood has made a noticeable improvement in the passing game despite not having a talent like Colston Loveland. Maybe the biggest improvement is the way he's taken care of the ball.
Interceptions are what got Davis Warren benched in the first place. Michigan had 13 last season, but through four games, Underwood has one. He also has one lost fumble, giving him just two turnovers in four games,
Underwood is also averaging 41 rushing yards per game. He's got 169 yards on the ground. 165 of those have come the past two weeks. Even now, he's on pace to run for over 500 yards and more than 10 touchdowns.
Underwood has only thrown two touchdown passes but he's got five total touchdowns. He's also averaged 7.2 yards per attempt. Underwood is throwing the ball 25 times per game.
So Michigan is being safe with him. Biff Poggi even admitted that after the Oklahoma game. That shouldn't happen anymore, not after a bye week.
The talent has shined through in every game, though. The experts are raving about Underwood, even Urban Meyer.
Underwood's start has maybe been slower than some expected, but playing major college football as a true freshman quarterback isn't easy. It's really hard, and Underwood has made the transition look easy.
The big games will come. So will the numbers, and as long as he keeps taking care of the ball the way he has, and keeps running, Michigan football can beat anyone on its schedule.
Grade: A-