In a wild showdown at Wrigley Field, Michigan’s Wolverines barely held on to beat Northwestern 24-22. Dominic Zvada’s last-second 31-yard field goal saved the day and kept Michigan’s slim College Football Playoff dreams alive.
Even with the win, Michigan showed some cracks. It left plenty of folks wondering what comes next for them in the Big Ten.
Michigan’s Narrow Escape
Michigan came into this game with a lot on the line. They needed a win to keep any playoff hopes breathing.
Things looked good for a while. Jordan Marshall’s touchdown pushed their lead to 21-9 in the third quarter.
But then, everything started to unravel. Turnovers and injuries piled up fast.
Fourth-Quarter Meltdown
The fourth quarter? It was chaos. Here’s what went wrong:
- Semaj Morgan’s fumbled punt
- Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood’s back-to-back interceptions
- Marshall’s shoulder injury
- Third-string running back Bryson Kuzdzal’s mishandled exchange
Northwestern took advantage and nearly pulled off an upset. Somehow, Michigan pulled together at the end, with Underwood guiding a 50-yard drive that set up Zvada’s clutch field goal.
Freshmen Stepping Up
Michigan’s young players were both a risk and a reward in this one. Bryce Underwood and Andrew Marsh, both freshmen, really stood out.
Underwood racked up 310 yards of offense with two rushing touchdowns. Marsh hauled in 12 catches for 189 yards—numbers that’ll go down in Michigan’s record books.
Future Prospects
Coach Sherrone Moore pointed out the upside of his young squad, praising their effort and prep. If these freshmen keep improving, Michigan could be a real problem for opponents down the line.
Still, they’ve got a ways to go, especially if you compare them to heavyweights like Ohio State or Oregon. The gap is obvious right now.
Big Ten Dynamics
Off the field, Michigan’s making noise in the Big Ten boardroom too. They’ve pushed back hard against the conference’s plan to raise $2.4 billion in private capital through UC Investments.
That opposition has stirred up some tension. Michigan’s not shy about using its influence.
Institutional Heft
Michigan’s got numbers on their side—massive TV ratings, fans all over the world, and a brand that’s hard to ignore. Their takeover of Wrigley Field was proof, with maize and blue everywhere you looked.
On-Field Performance
But all that clout doesn’t always show up on the field. Michigan’s 8-2, still in the hunt for the Big Ten Championship Game, but it’s been a bumpy ride.
They’ve stumbled against top teams and even looked shaky against some of the weaker ones. It’s not exactly the dominance fans crave.
Recent Games
Recent games have been all over the place. They got blown out by USC, picked up solid wins against Washington and Nebraska, and then struggled against a few bottom-tier Big Ten teams.
This Northwestern game? Just another example of their unpredictability.
Looking Ahead
Next up, Michigan faces Maryland—a team stuck in a six-game losing streak. That should give the Wolverines a chance to iron out some issues.
Northwestern, meanwhile, still needs to beat Minnesota or Illinois to make a bowl game. Michigan’s got a shot to clean things up before the big one against Ohio State on November 29.
The Ohio State Game
The annual showdown with Ohio State is always massive. No matter what’s happened earlier, *The Game* just hits different.
If Michigan had lost to Northwestern, it would’ve taken some shine off the rivalry. But with this win, the stakes are still sky-high for that November clash.
Conclusion
Michigan barely scraped by Northwestern, and honestly, it says a lot about where they stand right now. You see flashes of real promise from their younger players.
But at the same time, there are these nagging doubts—can they really hang with the best teams? With more tough games ahead, the Wolverines can’t afford to keep slipping up if they’re serious about making noise in the Big Ten.
For a detailed account of the game, visit the original article.
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