Without Justice Haynes and Marlin Klein in the lineup, Michigan's offense had little resistance from Washington's defense on a sunny afternoon in the Big House. Bryce Underwood created his most balanced drive of the day by zipping it out to Andrew Marsh for a 22-yard screen pass that popped the cork on the scoreboard.
Washington was able to even things up at halftime with a one-yard Jonah Coleman touchdown plunge. The Huskies had to feel relieved to be tied because Michigan football should have been ahead by a wider margin at the break.
Late in the third, the outcome of the game changed in an instant when Cole Sullivan got in the passing lane and forced the first turnover of Desmond Williams Jr. One snap later, Jordan Marshall ran to daylight for six. Williams Jr. did it again on the next series. He threw it right in the direction of Jimmy Rolder.
When you coach or play at Michigan- you will have to deal with very high standards. It’s a positive, but it’s a challenge. This team and staff were challenged after the USC road loss. Sherrone said they addressed the issues, they were gonna get to work, and that we’d see a…
— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) October 18, 2025
Michigan's offense waged its way down the field with two chunk plays to the backup tight ends, who made things look less stressful for Underwood. The freshman placed it on target to a wide-open Zack Marshall for six more. Williams tried to get the Huskies back in it, but got intercepted a third time when his receiver could not secure the ball, which resulted in a gift for Jacob Oden. The ball literally landed right in his lap. The Wolverines ran the clock out and are now set up for a favorable push before the No. 1 team trots into town next month.
Here are three of the takeaways from the revitalized win.
1. Injuries didn't damper Michigan's offense
Jordan Marshall, Zack Marshall, Deakon Tonielli and Blake Frazier all had a busy workload because of their successors were out or got injured during the win. Both Marshalls were their respective stat leaders and combined for over 200 yards of total offense. Tonielli had a drop early, but that didn't stop his quarterback from targeting him. Coach Moore would probably approve of the way that Frazier handled his own once Evan Link went to the locker room. Speculation will begin on whether or not Link is gone for the season though.
Statistically speaking, Bryce Underwood had his least amount of incompletions in the win. He also went over 1,000 yards for the season and passed for more yardage than Davis Warren did in 2024. Semaj Morgan continues to frustrate the masses with his drops. He was open on a fourth and one in the first quarter and had everyone screaming for his benching.
Defensively Ernest Hausmann rolled his ankle, but left the field under his own power. As a whole the defense was marvelous on Saturday. They neutralized a dangerous running quarterback to negative yardage on the ground, three turnovers and two sacks for Michigan's defenders. That is the most takeaways that they have accounted for this season.
2. Michigan's defense extinguished Desmond Williams Jr.'s fire
Last week, Williams Jr. lit up the Rutgers defense for over 500 yards of total offense. This week, he was cooled down to under 200 yards. He threw for a season-high in interceptions and was not a weapon with his legs. They affirmed the performance with a fourth-down stop late in the contest by strip-sacking him and putting up three more points.
Jonah Coleman only ran for 50 yards, and the Huskies were obligated to settle for a season-low 40 rushing yards. Denzel Boston had just 23 yards receiving if you don't count his 48-yard catch on a lost scoring drive for the Huskies in the opening period. Outside of Washington's big three, the rest of the players mustered a smidge over 100 yards offensively.
Seven tackles for loss is also a new high mark for the year. The previous was six in the Central Michigan blowout. Rod Moore and Brandyn Hillman were seen on the sidelines not wearing pads which makes it a bit more impressive for their replacements. Cole Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder's picks are the first teammates from the same position group to take the ball away. Usually that is a norm for defensive backs to dictate.
3. Michigan's playoff chances remain on life support
If Michigan football wanted any prayer to make the playoff, the Wolverines have to win out, and that started with Washington. They played 180 degrees opposite of what they looked like in Los Angeles. Joel Klatt kept mentioning during the broadcast that this is the Michigan football from its championship seasons, and he was completely right.
To do it without about four starters and your No. 1 option on offense makes it more fulfilling. Washington's rush defense was hovering around 83 yards a game entering week eight. Jordan Marshall is the only running back to surpass the century mark against a stingy Huskie front seven. The Buckeyes couldn't even cross that barrier in Washington's other loss.
Michigan's offensive line was getting criticized for being recognized on the Joe Moore award watch list, but they slowly took over on Saturday and almost ran for over 200 yards. Michigan still needs to figure out who is going to be the third back in the rotation when Justice Haynes or Marshall are not on the field.