Why Michigan’s game against USC is maybe most important of the season
Tony and Andrew break down what a Michigan win over USC could mean for their College Football Playoff chances.
LOS ANGELES – It could have been worse. Probably should’ve been worse. But just when the game was on the verge of turning truly ugly, Michigan football’s defense made a play.
And then another.
Not enough of them to save the game − or save the season, though technically U-M could run the table and get into the College Football Playoff. That’s a technicality, however, because these Wolverines aren’t close to that level.
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USC exposed that here at the LA Memorial Coliseum, running over, through and around the Wolverines before eventually running them off the field, 31-13. As mentioned, it could’ve been worse.
U-M couldn’t pressure Jayden Maiva, or cover the Trojans’ receivers, or stop their third-string running back, King Miller, who iced the game early in the third quarter – yes, the third quarter – when he took a handoff on 3rd-and-26, burst through a yawning hole, juked Brandyn Hillman, and tore up the field for 49 yards.
Two plays later, Miller scooted around the edge for 15 yards and a touchdown. That made it 21-7. That was ballgame. Though, frankly, it felt over when USC moved 75 yards like wire through cheese and scored with seconds left in the first half.
That made it 14-7. Somehow, it felt over even then. That’s presumptuous, of course, but hey, anyone who watched the first half saw it.
Blame the three-time zone difference if you like, or the cross-country flight, or the discombobulation that comes when a team on one side of the country travels to play a team on the other side. Like USC did recently when they played poorly at Illinois and lost.
Just don’t tell that to Indiana. The Hoosiers found their way from Bloomington, Indiana, to Eugene, Oregon, and took out the No. 3-ranked Oregon Ducks. Yes, the Hoosiers, who, by the way, are also led by a second-year coach.
Turnarounds happen fast. At least they are expected to happen fast, especially when a coach takes over at a school with resources like Michigan has.
Sherrone Moore is a long way from feeling heat. He beat Ohio State and Alabama last season, and his team – both this season and last – play hard for him. That isn’t nothing. He also recruits well.
Yet this is two years in a row the Wolverines have looked stuck in mud too often on offense. To be fair, U-M lost its best running back, Justice Haynes, to an injury just before halftime. That was a blow. And the quarterback is an 18-year-old freshman.
Still, Moore’s offense doesn’t attack the whole field. Perhaps partly because Bryce Underwood is so young, and he wants to minimize turnovers. But watching the Trojans spread wide and use misdirection, it looked like the teams were playing different sports at times Saturday evening.
Defensively, the Wolverines weren’t ready for what Lincoln Riley dialed up. Their advantage on the outside was one thing, but the struggle to get consistent pressure on Maiava and fit the run was startling.
USC amassed almost 500 yards, nearly half of them on the ground. Miller ran for 158 and often started his runs untouched.
About the best U-M could muster were two turnovers when the Trojans were close to scoring, one on a fumble, the other an interception. Those swings made the score respectable – for a while.
Scoreboards aren’t arbiters of nuance, though. Box scores are, and the more detailed numbers back up the demolition at the Coliseum, where the Wolverines got outmaneuvered and at times even outmuscled, and never really had a chance.
Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
