Coming off its second bye week in a transitional season, defending national champion Michigan will take another run at becoming bowl-eligible on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Northwestern in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Moving past recent struggles is the mission at Michigan (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) as the Wolverines reel from four losses in the past five games following a promising start.
“It was buy-in week,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “We really took it upon us to make sure that we’re all bought into the next two games, to do everything we can to get better, and really working on the fundamentals, the little things … make sure we’re all in.”
The Wolverines nearly overcame extended sluggishness in a 20-15 loss at then-No. 8 Indiana on Nov. 9, but they fell a yard short of converting a fourth-and-10 in the closing minutes to curb their comeback bid.
Michigan scored just one touchdown in three trips inside the red zone, a 1-yard scoring run from Kalel Mullings with 9:35 to play. Quarterback Davis Warren was limited to 137 yards on 16-for-32 passing while the run game gained only 69 yards on 34 carries.
Moore said there was “fire” and “energy” in practices this week after a few days off. He said the relative disappointment of the team’s current record after reaching the college football mountaintop with a perfect record (15-0) and national title last season doesn’t change the importance of playing a postseason game.
“It’s huge for the program, obviously, playing another game, getting another chance to play with your team, but building on the future. Building, getting more practices,” Moore said. “It’s like another spring ball for the young guys. It’s more football for the guys that need to keep getting better at football. So it’s huge for us, and huge for the program.”
Michigan has won seven consecutive games in the series with Northwestern.
Also in the hunt for a bowl bid, Northwestern must accomplish something it hasn’t achieved this season to reach the postseason. The Wildcats (4-6, 2-5) need to win consecutive games.
In its most recent matchup, Northwestern fell 31-7 to No. 2 Ohio State at Wrigley Field last Saturday. Quarterback Jack Lausch passed for 201 yards and rushed for 44 and Northwestern’s lone TD. But the offensive line allowed four sacks, and Lausch lost a fumble while running downfield.
Northwestern coach David Braun realizes that winning won’t be easy in Ann Arbor, where the Wolverines are 36-6-2 against the Wildcats.
“Our guys just gotta do a great job of really eliminating interference,” Braun said. “… Whether it be the crowd noise, whatever that looks like. I’m confident that our group will handle that the right way and focus on what really matters. And that’s the 60 minutes of football we gotta go play.”
