ANN ARBOR – For likely the last time until Michigan’s regular-season finale against No. 1 Ohio State, the Wolverines are a slight betting underdog in Saturday’s game at USC.
Michigan players and coaches often revert to clichés when discussing the magnitude of games this early in the season. That was the case again this week, with several saying the team’s next game is always the “biggest game.”
But the sentiment carries more weight this week. The Trojans (4-1, 2-1 Big Ten) aren’t ranked but received votes in the latest Associated Press poll.
They own the Big Ten’s top-ranked offense (48.4 points and 565 yards per game), and their only loss came on a last-second field goal against Illinois on Sept. 27.
“I think every game is big,” Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford said Wednesday. “We’re playing a really good football team, and they’re well-coached. They’ve got great tradition. It’s an iconic venue we’re going to be playing in, the Coliseum. (Head coach Lincoln Riley) obviously has those guys ready to play. They’ve got some really, really good players, athletic guys.
“So this is a big game for us. They’re all big, but this is a big one. Hopefully, we can go out and take care of business and go from there.”
There’s no “easy” games in Big Ten play. Just ask Penn State, which lost to winless UCLA last week. However, the Wolverines’ schedule sets up favorably after Saturday. They return home next week against a 4-1 Washington program that they lost to last season, but the Huskies have been ravaged by injuries and will be making their second trip to the eastern time zone in a three-week span.
Then it’s three straight matchups against teams with multiple losses – Michigan State, Purdue and Northwestern – before a road matchup against 4-1 Maryland on Nov. 22. Michigan will likely be favored in all five games before hosting the Buckeyes in what will truly be the “biggest” game of the year.
A win over the Trojans would put the Wolverines in an advantageous position to get back to the College Football Playoff. A loss would mean they would likely have to win out for a chance at a CFP berth.
“Yeah, I mean obviously that’s the thought in the back of our minds,” edge Cameron Brandt said Tuesday. “We’re approaching this team with that in the back of our minds, but again, it’s just the next game.
“Continue to do what we’ve been doing every single week, day in, day out. Put in the same work, same intensity. Treat every game like it’s the Natty. Just make sure we go out there and dominate.”
Saturday’s meeting between two bluebloods is one of three marquee Big Ten matchups this week that will drastically impact the Big Ten title race. Elsewhere, No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0) travels to No. 17 Illinois (5-1, 2-1), while No. 7 Indiana versus No. 3 Oregon is a battle of two unbeatens.
Unlike Michigan, USC already has one loss in conference play, but it only has one game remaining against a ranked opponent: Oregon on Nov. 22.
Last year, the Wolverines beat the Trojans in a nailbiter in Week 4 and entered their lone West Coast game with a 4-1 record. A 27-17 loss to the Huskies in Seattle kicked was the beginning of a 1-4 stretch that derailed Michigan’s season.
But the Wolverines’ offense has substantially improved from 2024, led by a five-star freshman quarterback in Bryce Underwood and a home-run transfer portal addition in running back Justice Haynes.
Michigan also signed its highest-rated receiver recruit since 2017 with Andrew Marsh, who had a breakout game last week with four catches for 80 yards in a 24-10 victory over Wisconsin.
“I would say I definitely came to Michigan to play in games like this,” Marsh said. “Big games I can look back on and just be glad I was able to play in those games.
“It’s something I’m proud of and something we pride ourselves on as a team. But we look at it just another game.”
The Wolverines’ offense will likely need to have a big day to keep up with USC’s potent attack. Quarterback Jayden Maiava is second in the nation in passing, while receiver Makai Lemon is second with 117.8 receiving yards per game. Running back Waymond Jordan, a junior college transfer, has helped balance the offense. He has rushed for 537 yards, which ranks second in the Big Ten behind Haynes.
“Definitely this is going to be a big game, but for us, we do take it one game at a time,” cornerback Zeke Berry said. “I feel like for the rest of the season, we always have that mentality because we don’t try to overlook anybody that we play.”
After losing to Oklahoma in Week 2, Michigan rebounded in its next road game by beating Nebraska 30-27 on Sept. 20. The Wolverines outgained the Cornhuskers 286 yards to 43 on the ground and sacked quarterback Dylan Raiola seven times.
Defensive line coach Lou Esposito believes Saturday’s matchup also will be decided in the trenches.
“It sounds like football talk, but the reality is, if you win in the trenches, your chances of winning skyrocket.,” Esposito said. “For us to win in the trenches, we’ve got to be physical at the point of attack. You’ve got to make them one-dimensional.
“The problem with them is when you try to make them one-dimensional and it’s passing, they’re really good at it. So we’re going to have to take our chances with some of the things we do. We’re going to take our shots at some of the things we do. We have to make the quarterback feel uncomfortable. And toughness travels. Like, at the end of the day, when you’re going on the road and you’re playing in a great environment, it’s a historic stadium, the place is going to be packed, toughness travels. You fall back on your training when things get crazy. When all that noise and all that pressure is on you and you’re sweating and it’s a long drive and you need to stop, toughness is what’s going to come back and win.”