It should come as no surprise that there is a lot of frustration surrounding Michigan football right now. More specifically, there is frustration about the offense and the fact that the level of play they have in practice simply isn't translating to games, and it has now cost them wins in conference play.
With the way that the coaches and players speak about Michigan during the week, this offense is a championship-level unit that is picking apart a very good Wolverines defense. However, when it comes to game day, the offense looks lost and discombobulated. It makes you wonder how hard the defense is going against the offense in practice.
Offensive tackle Blake Frazier is just the latest player to come out and question the translation from practice to games. It comes just days after running back and captain Jordan Marshall questioned the same thing, and even Kyle Whittingham can't seem to figure out that issue.
"A little bit confused, and I think that stems from the fact that I've watched us pick apart our defense in practices. You guys have seen our defense playing lights out. It just speaks to what we can be," Frazier said. "So the fact that we're not doing that means that there's some sort of disconnect somewhere. We've been trying to figure that out."
Michigan OL Blake Frazier on his feelings about the Michigan offense:
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) October 6, 2026
"Pretty frustrated. I'd say frustration is the biggest emotion I've felt.
"A little bit confused. And I think that stems from the fact that I've watched us pick apart our defense in practices. And you guys…
Michigan's offensive issues could be more about a lack of practice-to-game translation
It is one thing if it's just the coaches praising the team for having good practices, and then it just doesn't show in the games. It isn't uncommon for a coach to say their team had a great practice, and it is more like "coach speak" than the truth of how the team is looking, but players are coming out and saying they feel practices are going really well, and it's just a disconnect in games.
There are a lot of things that could be pointed to as the main problem for the Michigan offense: the offensive line, the lack of a run game, and only two receivers being targeted on pass plays. However, the real issue could be that disconnect that Frazier, Marshall, and Whittingham are talking about.
Michigan probably isn't having perfect practices every single day, but if they are truly competing well against the Wolverines' defense, which has proven to be one of the best units in the country, then how do they translate to the game?
The problem seems simple, but the answer feels so complex because figuring out that disconnect is hard to do. I believe that a big part of the issue is the offensive line play. If the line can get healthy and have the guys Jim Harding initially wanted as the starters playing consistently, then it will be a game-changer for Underwood and the run game.
With a bye week this weekend, Michigan has a chance to get healthier and figure out how to bring these good practices to the games on Saturdays. At this point, if the Wolverines want a shot at the College Football Playoff, they have to win out, which won't be easy with Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State still on the schedule, so they have a lot of work ahead of them.
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