The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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8 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2025 T he natives can grow a little restless any time Michigan football doesn't steam unde- feated into October. Here's why the spears should be shoved back in the scabbards, and the sedatives shelved until further notice. The Wolverines stood 3-1 coming out of a birth-pains-producing win at Nebraska. Yes, they should have taken this one by two touchdowns. Yes, they sacked Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola seven times. Yes, they dominated the game on the ground and missed an easy trick-play touch- down on a misfire toward a receiver lonelier than a hitchhiker on I-80. But, yes, they also gifted Matt Rhule's crew 10 points in a 30-27 game. They allowed a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown despite defenders outnumbering the receiver 5-1. They had Nebraska stopped on a drive be- fore extending it via ill-considered taunt- ing of the other bench, eventually hand- ing the Cornhuskers three more points. Coaches like to say if you can escape with a win — especially a road win — and still have teaching material, that's a good outcome. They can teach on this one for two solid weeks, while sitting at 1-0 in the Big Ten. Here are five reasons why the Wolver- ines will enter October in a very good po- sition, provided they learn and grow. 1. Oklahoma isn't a bad loss — at all. The Sooners are a very strong team, behind head coach Brent Venables and transfer quarterback John Mateer, now a Heisman candidate. At this writing, Oklahoma stood 4-0, with notable wins over Michigan and Auburn and ranked in the top 10 of both major polls, No. 7 by the Associated Press. They've got a tough schedule, but barring major injuries, this team will surpass 10 wins and make the College Football Playoff. Michigan traveled to Norman for a night game, the first-ever road trip for a freshman quarterback versus one of the better defenses in the nation. Losses are never good, but this one proved instruc- tive and will age well. 2. Bryce Underwood will do noth- ing but get better. The freshman QB got as big of a chal- lenge as he'll see all year in Norman. He absorbed plenty of lessons and used them to find a way to win at Nebraska. Every game, every video cutup he gets to absorb, moves him forward in the learning pro- cess. He's added the run threat, breaking away for a 37-yard TD against the Corn- huskers. Everyone looking on marvels at the way he throws the football, especially on the run. Now he's faced two of the tougher road environments he'll see. Now he'll not only carry confidence in his skills he's al- ways possessed, he'll know better what's coming and how to attack it. When he wakes up on Nov. 29 at the team hotel, the program will still list him as a freshman. In reality, he won't be one. He'll have 11 games under his belt. Michigan just needs to win enough in the meantime to make that showdown a potential playoff quali- fier. 3. Michigan's defense is better than the points allowed. Wink Martindale's defense entered the bye week averaging 17.75 points allowed per game. That's not terrible, at No. 38 in the country, but it's misleading. The Nebraska gaffes are both bla- tant and easily fixable. The front seven is playing better, with se- nior Jaishawn Barham's shift to edge rusher potentially a game- changer. He's a bullet train coming off the edge, and at the very least, will open opportunities for others. Meanwhile, Michigan's getting eye-opening play by sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan, and ex- cellent contributions from fresh- man cornerback Jayden Sanders. They and other young players are coming along in ways that could make Michigan's defensive in- timidation at the end of this year mirror its shocking production against Ohio State and Alabama last year. 4. U-M can smash and dash. The Wolverines entered the bye week averaging 253.5 yards on the ground per game, against a very respectable schedule. That whispers progress in the offensive line, despite injury shakeups. Plus, the Wolverines have demonstrated explosive runs by junior tailback Justice Haynes (537 yards in four games, 8.1 per carry average, long TDs of 75 — twice), sophomore Jordan Marshall (a 54-yard TD at Nebraska) and Underwood (the 37- yard TD). That sort of rushing prowess can make up for plenty and make it easier for Underwood. 5. Dominic Zvada remains a weapon. Zvada, the senior placekicker, gave Michigan the lead on a 56-yard field goal at Nebraska. Given his track record, he was expected to make it. He experienced a couple of surprising misses earlier in the season, but he's still a major threat when needed. So sure, 4-0 would be nice. But this 3-1 could grow into something special, if the Wolverines make all the right moves going forward. ❏ WOLVERINE WATCH ❱ JOHN BORTON A 3-1 Start Creates High Hopes Sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan has shined for the Wolverines, posting 19 tackles (fourth on the team), 2 sacks (second) and 2 interceptions (first) through the first four games. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Senior writer John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@thewolverine.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @JB_Wolverine.