What is going on with the Wolverines?
Whether it was NIL splurges, coaching changes, or internet-breaking controversies, following college football and not seeing the Wolverines would be impossible. With Michigan’s historic football program, deep-pocketed alumni base, world-class university, and massive logo recognition, nothing short of greatness was expected out of this year's squad. Now, four weeks in, Michigan is already 2 losses deep and far from safe from controversy. With that being said, what went wrong with the Wolverines?
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To start, Michigan simply has not lived up to the expectations that came with its offseason. After bringing in one of the nation’s most highly regarded recruiting classes (the #1-rated QB included) and making major moves through the transfer portal, the Wolverines looked like a team built to compete for a championship. Instead, they have looked inconsistent and, at times, completely out of sync. The biggest problem has been Michigan’s inability to turn talent into consistent results. The Wolverines have plenty of players capable of making big plays, but having talent on paper does not guarantee success on the field. Against Iowa, for example, Michigan was able to move the ball and rack up significantly more yardage, yet still walked away with a loss. That game perfectly represented the Wolverines’ season so far: they can look like the better team statistically and still find a way to lose.
Another issue has been the pressure surrounding the program. Michigan is no longer simply trying to win football games. Every decision is analyzed because of the program’s recent success, massive NIL spending, coaching changes, and the expectations that come with being one of college football’s biggest brands. When a team with this much talent loses, the questions become much bigger than just what happened on Saturday. At the same time, I believe that it would be unfair to write Michigan off after only four weeks. College football seasons can change quickly. A team that looks completely different in October can become a contender by November. Michigan still has enough talent to turn its season around, but the margin for error is shrinking. The Wolverines entered the season expecting to be one of the teams everyone else was chasing. Instead, they have become one of the teams everyone is talking about for the wrong reasons. Whether Michigan can fix its mistakes will determine whether this is simply a rough start or the beginning of a disappointing season.
For now, one thing is clear: something is not right in Ann Arbor. If you are asking me, I think the first moves come within the quarterback, O-line, and offensive coordination rooms, but that is a covernsation for another blog.
