Whether the final play counted or not on Saturday night for Michigan against Western Michigan, it doesn't change the fact that the Wolverines looked like frauds.
That has nothing to do with the final score. Michigan football won the game 13-12. Anyone denying that just isn't accepting reality.
What is true, though, is that if Michigan doesn't get better, as in much, much, much better, the Western Michigan outcome will be irrelevant by the end of the season, outside of maybe being important for bowl eligibility.
Western Michigan is a good team. The Broncos will probably win the MAC title, but Michigan football looked like a team that will struggle to win seven games. Maybe that's who the Wolverines are?
Maybe, Bryce Underwood is still a year away, or, just not as good as we thought he was going to be. It wouldn't be the first time or the last. Saturday's game will be a key test in that regard. Some have made it out to be a make-or-break game. It sort of feels that way, especially after what Kyle Whittingham said about his status as starting quarterback not being "infinite."
Maybe the expectations have been too high. More patience could be what's needed, but Underwood has gone out of his way to make that hard with some of the things he has said.
The film analysis of Saturday's game wasn't great for Underwood. Joel Klatt called the Western Michigan film, "alarming." He wasn't the only one.
There were other disturbing things about the one-point victory, though. The offensive line struggled, although the way Western loaded the box didn't make things easier. Michigan football managed just 16 carries between Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter.
Michigan can prove it's not a fraud by beating Oklahoma
If that's the case on Saturday, Michigan will lose. It probably won't be close. As much as Michigan wanted to "air it out" this season, that's not what it's capable of right now. Western has a solid defense. It also had a great plan, but Oklahoma's Brent Venables put Bryce into a blender last season, and will try to do the same thing.
Michigan wasn't able to run the ball effectively in that game either, outside of one long run by Justice Haynes. That will need to change on Saturday. The Wolverines will need to win the line of scrimmage. Underwood will have to figure it out, whether that means passing or running.
With a blowout loss on top of what happened against Western Michigan, it will feel like the season is over before it even started. The Wolverines have enough talent to win the game, and as far as being a playoff contender, it feels like the only way to show it is beating Oklahoma. Somehow, someway.
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