Blue By Ninety - Michigan Weekly

Episode Date: September 23, 2026

Michigan is 3-0, but Saturday against Iowa should tell us much more about what kind of team the Wolverines actually have.Welcome to Michigan Weekly with Trevor McCue and Nick Coston, aka Big Boutros.This week, Trevor and Nick look back at Michigan's strange 52-17 win over UTEP — from two early turnovers and another shaky start to 38 unanswered points and Bryce Underwood's best passing performance of the season. Was the dominant second half a sign Michigan's offense is starting to figure things out, or simply what should happen against UTEP?Then it's on to No. 18 Iowa. The Hawkeyes have allowed just 13 points all season, Michigan's defense has been tested against the better competition, and everything points toward a low-scoring Big Ten opener decided by turnovers, field position and which offensive line holds up.Western Michigan raised the questions. Oklahoma provided some answers. UTEP gave us two completely different halves.Iowa might give us the verdict.〽️ Michigan Weekly🎙️ Trevor McCue & Nick Coston (Big Boutros)📅 New episodes every Wednesday📺 On the Blue By 90 network

All right, welcome in Michigan Weekly here on the Blue by 90 podcast network. I am Trevor McHugh, joined as always by Nick Koston, aka Big Butros. What is the world? I don't even know where to start with the face. Is the hat supposed to be a reference to? No, I just having a funky hair day. Okay, fair enough. Yeah, so we'll get this out of the way.

Mr. Butros and myself, we're supposed to eat hot wings today. because Michigan did eclipse 50 points against UTEP. Both of us are coming off of illnesses and have had very, very chaotic days. So I'm even lucky I'm on here doing the show right now. So we actually was pretty crazy. We both had the same idea before we even talked. And it's just wow that we agreed to this.

We cannot welch. Right. We do not want to be welchers. So we are offering a doubler down. A double It's going to be a Double or nothing, double down. Double or nothing double down.

Where if Michigan and we'll let you guys vote either has to cover against Iowa or simply beat Iowa, you tell us which. But if they do that, we will not only eat wings next week. We will eat spicy,

regret it later in the evening wings. It will be like a fireball challenge wings. Yeah, hot ones, whatever. So we missed, yeah, we missed the sort of just like chill out and eat wings window. So our punishment for avoiding the welch is painful wings. Okay. I'm going to put this in the chat so I don't forget actually too. But let's get into this right away.

Obviously, and then we'll circle back on the wings as it comes on. We had to cover it up front. Yeah, I wanted to get it out of the way, which is probably not going to work, because everybody's going to show up as we go, but that's why I'll put it in the chat. Anyway, obviously not the start we would have liked to see from Michigan against Utah, I started feeling like, oh, my gosh, is this another Western game? At one point, they're literally trailing 14-7. And then we don't get the revert back too bad that we saw at Western.

The offense wakes up 38 straight points. Bryce has arguably his best statistical game analytically. I've broken down some things as well, and I'm sure it'll come up in the show about why I thought it was his best game. The running game started going at moments. The defense continues to look unbelievable. Again, this is all under the context of, yeah, it's UTEP, but I always say this.

You can only play the team that's on your schedule. So when the team does what they're supposed to do against that team, it's a good thing. But obviously, troublesome start. We were hoping they wouldn't come out flat. Michigan still has not played a complete. game despite being undefeated. So it was so interesting going into this game, Nick, because obviously we didn't know

what the weather situation was going to be like. Right. But what a complete flip of emotions and feelings as the second half got going to see the backups and such. Yeah, I remember when we were previewing the Utep game and the weather report was extremely dire, like it was going to be sort of hurricane force rain and, like two inches an hour. I conceded this time, okay, score doesn't matter to me.

I'm not, I don't care about the cover, the way that I did in the preseason for the Western game, learned a hard lesson, et cetera. Then the weather turned out, it was a, you know, it was a sprinkle, and it didn't really affect the run of play. So what happened in the first half wasn't weather stuff. It was just bad Michigan stuff. Right. And yeah, you think to yourself, here we go again.

And then Michigan in the second half managed to essentially pack a full game, a full expectation into about 20 minutes of gameplay time. And ultimately sort of compliant with that old expression that good teams win, great teams cover. Like, well, they, how can you be down 14 to 7 to Utah? Excuse me, to UTEP. Oh, that's a little sublimb. That's a Freudian.

How can you be down 147 to U-TEP? But then ultimately you cover and you look great in the second half? It's, I think that rightfully, because this is a regime, a coaching staff in its first year at Michigan, not its first year overall, but its first year at Michigan. And we've basically seen 1.5 terrific games. and 1.5 atrocious games that coming into this close matchup with Iowa, you're holding your breath.

You don't know which Michigan is going to start the game because I think what we've seen between Western and U-TEP is that the way Michigan starts ends up pretty consequential. right so the the turnovers and the poor offense first western was were costly until the very final second the the 61st second against utep

not costly cleaned it up ended up covering and you look at the box score and it's ultimately the kind of game you in the preseason would have liked to see Michigan play against this utep team but we saw the first half. And so you're just left asking which Michigan is going to start the Iowa game. Because if you give Iowa, if you put the ball on the ground twice in the first quarter versus Iowa, that's a hole that you might not climb out of. The hole versus Utep not only was climbable,

but frankly, easy, right? It turned from a one touchdown deficit into 52 points and a 35 point cover. That's not that's not. If you give Iowa the ball twice, that's not going to happen again. That's not going to happen versus Iowa. Part of the reason the Western game, I mean, the coach is kind of acknowledged like they were caught off guard by it. I mean, I don't want to get in all the excuses again. But like Western was able to limit possessions by running the ball, welcome to clock, playing good defense. Right. So with Iowa, you're right. If you come out slow or you make the wrong game plan or whatever happens, you're not going to have a bunch of extra possessions and you're not going to have a weak defense on the other side to battle back against.

Now, we'll get into it. There's reasons to think Iowa isn't as good as some people think. We don't know potentially, right, because then again, we'll get into it. But before we get to that, you mentioned the, this 38-minute straight points, the eight-game minutes, 20 minutes, whatever. it really was a pretty incredible stretch. And I mean, offensively, you've got the points up here.

We'll break down too. But I mean, defensively, that poor quarterback. Yeah. I thought, so what we heard from Kyle Whittingham in the Utep post game really fascinated me.

And I think back to the Utah fans sort of warning Michigan, like get ready for a submarine. And it's been the up, it's been such a breath of fresh air. The candor compared. to the Moore and Harbaugh regimes. And so he was referencing his halftime speech. And this is something that you and I have talked about,

especially in the aftermath of the Western game, was perhaps this staff came in and saw the kind of trauma that the roster went through the way that the Sharon Moore era ended and wanted to get this team to play with more joy, wanted to want them to enjoy the sport. And so the halftime speech, I would expect the average Power 5 head football coach, if his team has just been down at home 14-7 to U-TEP and barely gets a halftime lead against U-Tep, I would expect that halftime speech to be a paint-peeling tirade. But instead, it was a plea to his team to enjoy the game. It's time to start having fun.

and I thought that was a fascinating admission. I don't want to say if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but certainly the result of whatever he said was positive because Michigan in the third quarter, I believe it was 28-0, right? The second half was 353, the third quarter itself was 28-0. It was 28-0. The stats in that quarter were one of the most lopsided things I've ever seen. Yeah, I believe Utep had like minus 16 yards.

It was negative yards, yeah. in the third quarter. And so I've been thinking about that a lot, where my instinctive reaction to the first half was I cannot believe they let this happen again. I'm so shocked and disappointed that they didn't learn from the Western debacle, and this is happening again. But the reflection on the halftime speech about asking his team to play with

joy and enjoy the sport. And then seeing the fruits of that, I think are exciting. And if I were to crystallize the pivot in a single play, it was the Andrew Marsh toe tap. And I know that didn't, I think that happened in the second quarter, not the third. So I think that was before the speech and before halftime. I understand that. but I remember that play feeling like a very significant moment because Michigan has been playing the whole season, but particularly this half, this first half against U-TEP, tight, don't lose, don't mess up.

Oh, we fumbled again. And, you know, that was a third and long. The drives weren't going well. and it was a absolutely marvelous physical play by Marsh. And I think from that moment, it just helped lower the barometric pressure on that sideline. And it really allowed Michigan to play with talent and play joyfully. So I just noticed those were two things that I noticed from that game

where that Marsh Tootap sort of turning the tide on the field. And then the nature of the halftime speech, I found fascinating. And I really want to see how that manifests in the coming weeks. You brought up something I wasn't planning to talk about, and then we'll get back to the layout. But first off, shout out to one of our sponsors, puts some spirits in the comments.

Always good to see that. The goat, Woodson, Whiskey. Hi, Charles. You talking about the joy thing, just made me think about the Harbaugh-era the good teams that didn't live up to expectations and even the good teams that again there's I think there's been some revisionist history about how close a lot of those games were and not fun right where they would come out with these script plays and be explosive and then get super

conservative and Jim wanted to win like this Iowa game he wants to win 1310 and he's happy with that right that was such a consistent thing and I remember I would talk to players during the week and it was always we're going to do it we're going to open up the playbook we've been practicing all this crazy stuff we're excited we're going to do it we're going to do it and then it wouldn't happen in the game and then that transferred into the sharon more era as well and i remember talking about there was this frustration where it's like players want to play they want to make plays and they do want to have fun and at some point you have to trust them not only to make the play and prove like, hey, I know I can count on you to do this in a situational way,

but also like go out there and make a play and get the crowd riled up and like the dividends that pays, right? So when you were talking, I was thinking about a couple big moments back to back. Michigan ties the game with the past to Buchanan where it was like, we've been hearing on the offseason, like if they're going to load the box, we're going to make them pay in the passing game. and they haven't been. Whittingham's been open about it as well,

that we're running in these loaded boxes. And look, am I, yeah. Am I correct that both of the touchdown passes to Buchanan and Marsh, those were cover zero slants? Mm-hmm. It were slants against cover zero.

Right. Yeah. So boom, that's what you're supposed to do. Exactly. Yeah. And even the field goal to have your kicker to get the lead. That was great time management.

Yeah. Yes, which somebody I think brought up, yeah, I could have swear there was a comment. I apologize, I don't see it right now. The, how well the end of the half was handled by the coaching staff. What a complete difference from the Shroomer era, right? But to have the coaching staff handle that moment perfectly and then ask your kicker in poor conditions and what's been kind of a sloppy first half, give your team an opportunity to take some momentum in the half and get the. lead by you making a career long field goal, it's not because he doesn't have the leg, right?

He can probably hit it deep from 50. We saw it on the kick. He drilled it, nice little draw right down the middle, right? I thought that back to back was the ignition to what ended up being one of the most dominant third quarters we've ever seen. But again, like following through on what you said as a coach and then just trusting your players

to make plays. And then you bring in the halftime speech. But I just thought that was really interesting. We've talked about special teams. I think we're probably the podcast that talks the most about special teams. Yeah, at nauseam at this point. But now, dude, I mean, I can't help it. Cam Brown has been unbelievable hunting.

I feel bad. I can't think of his name now that's doing the kickoffs. It freaks me out when he wears, they wears 97 because that's so hutch in my mind. Hayden Hutchinson doing kickoffs, yeah. I said, Baggett. I think it's bagged. But anyway, and then Bikowsky makes drills that field goal. And it's like, okay, the special teams are there.

And then the run game got going a little bit. We saw, and we can talk about Marshall and Hider's health a little bit if need be. But Marshall's run, Hider's starting to look more and more confident in showing that physicality. We know he'd come in with Underward hits Marsh for a T.D. We get a big man pick six from the defensive tackles. then true freshman trick. Boney and Carter Meadows are out there causing havoc.

Tommy Carr, what an incredible moment for him to come out and look phenomenal. And then to see Tammy and the family celebrating the way they were and then to make the trip to go watch CJ. Dude, just a great, great feeling. Yeah, perfect second half. Yeah. The joy.

I guess maybe it's contagious from the team out to fans too. Is it that simple? Yeah, and I also thought it was interesting in a good way that the garbage time drives ended up being sort of personnel consequential because I think it was on Monday after the game, Whittingham and some of the position coaches were doing their media availability. And it sounds like the third wide out moving forward as of today is Salessimoa. And I think that's in no small part because he had a great fourth quarter. He had like live fire opportunities.

He got targets and he made the absolute most of it. So I think I think that because Kyle Whittingham is so seasoned, he came to Michigan after 20 plus seasons of being a head coach. I think, and I'm as guilty of this as anyone, I think there was an expectation that everything would be day one. Or day one ready. And clearly there has been a two-week. a learning curve, players to staff and staff to players. And I think the second half against

Utep, which admittedly, a severely overmatched opponent, but I think it was a relief for everyone to get that second half. Live action that just goes your way, play after play, and you are the tidal wave sort of crashing upon the sand. And that's a great feeling. It's a great great piece of momentum to take out as as non-conference play ends. Michigan, probably the strangest three and no non-conference record it has ever had. That's fair. That is absolutely fair. Well, like you said, it's like about whether you break it into halves or quarters, you know,

and winning hands talked about the need to play a complete game, obviously. You know, with the hang up on what the day one ready expectation would be, I've been thinking, about this. An article I've been working on for two days and I've been able to post. I've been very intrigued. We'll go with that word by Whittingham's willingness to, and again, I'm sure it's not because these conversations aren't happening with Beck, but put out there like, this is what I've been frustrated with on the office.

He knows it. And then we see a correction, whether it's been using too much rhino, um, or or, you know, the tight end usage. We saw a little bit of a change in the second half there. You brought up the wide receipt because we didn't really know what the wide receiver three role was because we weren't seeing any of the wide receiver threes for a little bit there, right? Now there's been talk about the perimeter run because we've all been saying, man, you're, you're sending Marshall on the outside of time. That's not really his bread of butter. Or even Kuzdal on these sweeps.

Right. So I think a concern some folks had was, hey, is this big 12 slash pack 12 whatever staff coming in is Michigan going to be too big right it's easy to be like hey there's these coaches have done well with lower talent now they have all these players they're going to do great yeah and there's like oh well what what if the opposite happens and how can it be how can it be that you return 70% of your offensive line you unlock the quarterback run you have two all conference running backs and your running game is going backwards. Right. How can that be? Yeah. And I think, you know, and again, I'm not picking on anybody because these coaches know more than I ever will and deserve to be in the roles they're in.

But I think you look at a Jay Hill whose scheme was familiar enough and he did a lot to mirror the 2023 defense. and he is having a field day with this level of talent in his system. Yeah. And offensively, I think Beck has been more dedicated to his system than his roster. And we're starting to slowly see that adjust a little bit, right, to more what the players are and finding that happy medium. And again, Jay Hill and Whittingham have a lot of crossover. where Beck has obviously only been his coordinator for the one year at Utah, right? So they're still kind of figuring things out too where there's probably things

Whittingham wants to do that Beck hasn't. So you've been seeing that progress every week. I think that's probably the day one note. I believe in Harding and I believe in back. But I think that's where it's been like maybe they didn't have the right formula at the game. Yeah. And you and I, formula is a good word because you and I have spoken about this over the past couple of days. There's that there's that four pain outcome thing, window pain. It works and it makes

sense. It works even though it doesn't make sense. It doesn't work, but it makes sense. It doesn't work and it doesn't make sense. And the Jay Hill defense through, I think it's, what is it, 31 possessions, three touchdowns all have been on individual busts. There hasn't been any sort of schematic or structural issue with the defense. The Jay Hill defense at Michigan has worked and it makes totally total sense. We have said this all along. You and I, this is a medium ball knower show. And yet, it's so digestible. You, you can, if you, if you get your hands on the all 22, and you look at Michigan's defense, these first three weeks, it's extremely downloadable. You know what they're doing, right? So there's like a pre-snap cover two shell. They roll down a safety. You don't know

which one it's going to be, right? You don't know which safety is going to have deep responsibility, at which one, usually Bracey is going to roll up. And it's a one high. They trust their corners. Incredibly talented individual corners. That's four deep. So you can run man with a robber. Like, you can articulate the defense in 30 seconds, why it works and how it works.

And I think the offense has not been that day one. Now, I will say, it's been it's been 1.5 games of good 1.5 games of bad right so the whole western game and the first half of utap the offense didn't work and it didn't make sense the Oklahoma game it didn't it didn't work but it made sense the approach was to win the game correct the second half of utep worked and made sense and we have to test that now against I guess Oklahoma is a better defense than Iowa, but it's not by much, right? This is going to be probably now that we know Oklahoma stinks, this is probably going to be the hardest game of the year so far. Now, that doesn't have to be a problem if you are now a lot better than you were two, three weeks ago. But is the second half offensive lesson of Utep learned and applied moving forward?

I was just thinking about, you know, the minds of Venables versus Parker. I think you said Oklahoma's defense stinks. And then I was reminded. No, not the defense. No. And then I was like, well, that's not what he meant. And then I was reminded of how Brett Venables might have lost David Stone for the entire season. Playing fullback.

Stunning. Let's talk about the part. Actually, so there's a couple of comments coming in. I should catch myself. The Iowa and Oklahoma defenses are so radically different. I shouldn't even compare the two. So we can just strike that. I think all I want to put a pin in is we have to see.

Yeah, you ignited a few people with that. I guess. We have to see if the lessons, the offensive lessons learned. by Jason Beck from the Utep game in the second half are going to be applied and successful moving forward. Okay. Okay, guys. Okay.

I have a lot of faith. For the audio only, for the audio only folks on the light, a lot of comments, taking issue with the Iowa, Oklahoma defensive comparison. So I will retract. And we'll get into the, yes, Iowa hasn't played anybody.

I think that's an understatement. We'll get into that. But real quick, I want to touch on, oh, I knew. I knew I was going to lose the throat coffin at some point. Yeah. If you need cover, this is- You can't take over the mistakes in the game. Yeah, this is the problem.

This is the sustainability problem with the Michigan offense, regardless of tight-end usage, who's wide receiver three, how much rhino, how much. Jalen Hoffman. All of that, I think, is not necessarily secondary, but tied with ball security. It's tied with ball security. The Western Michigan game, as bad as the offense looked structurally and schematically, it would not have been a problem without three giveaways. It simply wouldn't. It would have been, you know, like an unsatisfying sort of 16 to 3, but ball security is as important moving forward,

particularly with this Iowa opponent, as personnel, as play calling. Well, the interesting piece, too, I mean, in the Oklahoma game, there's two fumbles that Michigan recovers. Mm-hmm. And otherwise, we're talking about that again. Yep.

And the penalties that were drive killers or drive extenders, right um penalty is not as much of an issue in this one starting to clean up but yeah i mean what was the penalty count uh for michigan against utow i don't have it seemed a lot better it felt sorry to put you on the spot i think it was only four i don't know why that's what i have in my head is four i'll take uh yeah four for 44 great great so improved um so for bryce the The run where he was holding out of the ball made me feel a lot better, obviously. But the biggest reflection for me, throwing the ball, he had five turnover-worthy plays against Western Michigan, throwing the ball.

He had only one in the last two games, not against Oklahoma, the one against U-Tep, which a former, I said this on the other podcast, just a former Michigan player that, like I say, his name, but people would absolutely trust his opinion on, put a little bit on that, on Johnson on that play. John Colossar said that. That's exactly who it was. Damn it. So the no interceptions piece of it. And then also, this was really stuck out to me. Whittingham said something about Bryce's processing and him getting rid of the ball quickly.

um time to throw against western michigan 3.05 seconds against oklahoma 2.67 against utap 2.45 in the that's that's a massive yeah improvement and we're not talking about the mechanics and whatever so agree that you're going to run the ball let's get that ball security thing figured out and all of a sudden hey yeah i think bryce's individual improvement has been so vast that it almost repaints the Western performance as just some, something, some freakish thing. Because,

uh, there was such a downshift versus Oklahoma, which is, you know, again, it's a six five, five star hometown hero. Like,

you could have wounded pride at being asked to throw less and run more and sacrifice your body more. No, he crushed that, he crushed that Oklahoma. game individually. And then just besides the, besides the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the end of the, the, I mean, well, that's never been a problem, but, like, hitting those cover zero slants. I don't know. I thought, so I believe, uh, was it 17 of 25? was Bryce, but... 19 of 26.

19 of 26, but I think there were three drops. One, well, I think there was two. Okay. The one to JJ wasn't attributed to him, so there was only one drop classified in the game. Okay. I would agree that there was more than that, but... In any case, a really, you know,

you take it back to square one against, Oklahoma and then rather than just sort of conceding like I guess we're just going to run a Navy offense all year you put some more back on his plate and again overmatched opponent but he he took that opportunity and did a great job is this what you're hearing no no I'm wondering if my mouse is making a tone of noise let me know in the comments guys if the audio on my end. It's fine now. It was before we went live. Weird. Oh, I just saw that.

That's funny. Oh, yeah. Real long time ago. Okay. You were talking about the fan before we had. Sorry, guys. Again, some behind the scenes context. Trevor has an oscillating fan in his... I'm so warm.

Office. And cold at the same time. You sound feverish. Yeah. I'm about during about to drink some of this right now. Anyway, um, last note I wanted to touch on with Bryce before we, um,

move on to the defensive side. Yeah. I, blown away by his stats. Hold on a second here. I just talked about the time to throw, right? Mm-hmm. And people turning on John Mateer.

As we knew they would. As we knew they would. And as you know, my big thing we talked about last year and this year was what with John Mateer? Pressure. Yes. And the massive range that exists between two different guys. Completely different. Yep.

Bryce Underwood against UTEP was 16 of 21 in a clean pocket, 8.2 yards per attempt and a touchdown. It's like 172 yards, 76%. no turnover where they plays 2.25 to get rid of the ball 11 first down on 16 completions absolutely what you should do in a clean pocket right yep your pressure seven dropbacks he went three for five 60 percent 10.2 yards per attempt with a touchdown one of the incompletions was a drop he was only sacked once and he scrambled out for the other one and he got four first downs. He had a higher rating under pressure than he did in a clean pocket. That's fantastic. You're never going to be better or the same. But if he increases the ball security when running the ball, continues to do what he's doing by hitting first reads,

the progressions, we're not talking about mechanics, getting rid of the ball quickly. And that gap between clean and pressure stays, and he's extending place, whatever, then Bryce Underwood is exactly what we thought he would be when he was hyped up as the number one quarterback crew. Yeah.

Like, again, I know this is UTAP, but we were literally talking about whether Michigan should bench him two weeks ago. Right. Because of a performance against a Mac team. So, yeah, there's no discounting at this point. And I also think it's a, it's a fairly warm sign that a completely, you know, 11th hour offensive line shuffle, put up a fine protection performance, even though you had two tackles who had not played in that.

I think the entire starting five, Michigan had never played that combination so far this year. No. I mean, in fall camp when they're playing around with stuff, sure. But Link returns to left tackle, which he hadn't played since the previous, here. Blake Frazier, same thing, got some snaps at right tackle before, but has obviously played

at left tackle out camp. And they were arguably the two best linemen in that game. They both played phenomenal and didn't allow any pressure. So, yeah, I thought that was a big moment as well. So not only in the second half did we get to see an insane amount, I think over 30 players played on both sides of the ball. We got to see some players play that haven't because of health, like a Hogan-Hanson. but also some things changed a little bit with tight end and H-back usage.

And I think we have on the offensive line note, I feel like we have enough information now where, you know, depending on Sprag's health and when he's back, I feel pretty confident what that group is now, if that makes sense. Yeah, so I took a couple of player notes on a rewatch. And there's one that a ball knowers, So I've shared this with my ball knowers, and they called me out like the comments have earlier in the episode. So there's one flag I have to sell flag, which is that the Norton comp should be Carson Barnhart, not Olu.

See, that's a lofty comp there. Right, right. It's too generous. But Barnhart was a starting offensive lineman on a national championship team and sort of a jack of all trades. really good comp. Yeah. And so Norton, I'll do him first. I might save Hanson for later just because I think it's a huge deal. So Brady Norton is not a physical powerhouse. But of all of Michigan's guards who have started or played extensively, he is probably the most trustworthy and probably the best at executing an assignment. Because we all know that guards and tackles and centers have much.

different assignments. And so there's a lot more trust in sending a run play behind Norton. If he's the puller or if he... I was going to say with the pin and pull and the traditional Michigan stuff we're used to in the power, agreed. Yeah. He's clear to phobia at this point. Exactly.

I'm comfortable with Norton starting and being, you know, guard one. I had a thought at guard, and it sounds like, so Jason Beck made some comments today in defense of the rhino. So I don't think the rhino is going anywhere. I think Beagle has actually scored pretty well on his assignments. So I think like he's executing his role. Yeah, the rhino player hasn't been the issue as much as the rhino usage. Yeah, exactly, which they did adjust to their credit. But I think that my proposal to make Beagle just a guard is not going to happen.

But I do think it's worth noting, Beagle is 65308. The Rhino is not like a big halfback. There wasn't some sort of, you know, aggressive body recomposition to play this position. He's just a guard. And so I think that that's worth monitoring. but what really changed in the second half, and I think what the grades bear out, is in game one versus Western, for example,

there was a huge snap count share and percentage for both Jalen Hoffman and Beagle, and even at the same time, right? So Jalen Hoffman, as in, in-line tight-end tight-end one and Beagle as Rhino, which is like a full-time position. That changed, and it changed

quite a lot. So Zach Marshall actually got the tight-end start against U-TEP. I thought he acquitted himself in a sort of a normal way, didn't really notice positive or negative. To me, the revelatory change was Hogan Hansen. I was

really shocked in a positive way because when Hogan Hanson was on the field, the Michigan offense looked a lot like the successful Jim Harbaugh offense. It looked extremely familiar. We go back to that window pane, works and makes sense. Michigan for the last five years has actually designed and executed a rush offense behind its tight ends. The tight ends are the lead blockers and the consequential hole creators on a lot of base install rushing place for Michigan.

And that was the case with Hogan Hanson, where he was the in line, he was pulling, he was cutting across the line of scrimmage. And he was not a physical marvel. It wasn't, he's not like 270 pounds and just pancaking dudes. But he was in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. And the thing, again, with that window pane doesn't work, doesn't make sense, is because Michigan Rush plays have been crashing into unblocked defenders at the line of scrimmage. He's screaming downhill linebackers.

Yeah. And it's like. Or to Connor's point, that is the one knock on Beagle is he'll engage in and maybe not go grab the linebacker. Or double team of the tackler. Yeah. He's got to peel off and grab those. Yeah. He's not a peeler.

Hansen, I don't, I don't, I don't, think Hansen had any like combo blocks in this game so I can't speak to to to his peeling but like he so you know, Heider I think he averaged what seven yards of carry in the second half they were just ripping off runs they were they were they were these were not bullheaded me to lineback with the line of scrimmage and carry him these were open holes and a lot of yeah I like that he's a shucker not a beagle is a shucker not a peeler I like what a Michigan Iowa thing to say so I don't want to you know I don't want to labor the point, but I just felt that the rushing plays with Hogan Hansen on the field were successful

and they made sense and I could see very plainly why they were working. And it was because he occupied that crashing linebacker. And he didn't, he didn't knock his head off, but he also prevented any sort of play in the backfielder at the line of scrimmage. And it was a night and day difference. And I don't think it's a coincidence that PFF had Hogan Hansen as by far the highest graded tight end on the day from Michigan. Yeah. We haven't disagreed in a while. So I'm going to engage you on this point.

Hit me. So I agree with the Hanson piece. I think we were talking earlier about Beck and maybe his formula, whether it's scheme and personnel and finding the right fit. And the rhino, not the use of it being the, I know everybody hates it. after a couple of those games, especially Western, may issue less with the usage and how it was used. What I've had an issue with has been in the tight end conversation. Jalen Hoffman absolutely has a role in a skill set that he is really, really good at.

I agree. I've been talking about Hoffman for three years. The idea, though, to have the Rhino package and then he's the primary tight end, in that package, I think was completely wrong. I think not having Hogan Hanson was a big deal. I think initially Beck felt like Zach Marshall in line with Beagle was like redundant, right? Because my Beagle is more like an inline tight end, right? He's not an extra offensive lineman.

It's not jumbo. He's this athletic. No, because we also have a jumbo package. There is a sixth offense. Exactly. He's different from the rhino. Yeah. And I think JJ Buchanan becoming a true wide receiver and not that tight end that could split out lie and played a ton of slot has really messed with the way they use the rhino and the way they use the tight ends.

Right. So Hoffman wasn't necessarily supposed to be an age back. He was a tight end in high school and he was a tight end prospect, but kind of naturally plugged into and earned as a former walk on. that next Max Breedison role. Which is not him. Yeah. And in times filled in and did well, right? But that wasn't him.

And then the way they've used him early this year, too, hasn't been him. So I think a healthy Hogan Hanson gives you the good run blocking tight end that is not redundant in the rhino package. And also it's a receding threat that can be the JJ. I think Zach Marshall is your inline tight end when you want to go 11 personnel and have wide receiver 3 that can split out and be four wide go down the scene, but it can stand in line and block as well. And I think Jalen Hoffman's that more versatile tight end that can motion, but I want to get him in the flat or down the seam. I don't want him in the slot running a 15-yard post with a corner on him because you came out with only two wide. receivers and they were a nickel or whatever you know what i mean so i think now it's figuring out so my point is i'm not as down on hoffman as some people are i think he had an incredible

fall camp and earned his spot i think the marshals lack of usage early and and the extra usage of rhino all of that has been a mess and i saw some clarity in the second half i will agree with you though if there was a way to just make Beagle the other guard, I mean, if, if that's going to go, I'd be fine, and play Zach Marshall more. I'd be fine with that, but it's not going to happen. The whole concept of the rhino as an individual position is so new to us that it's,

you know, it's like, it'll take some time to get palatable. And so we see this guy, 65308. If he's scoring so well, and we have a guard problem. Hello, it's like a guard.

So I, whatever. It's not my call to make. Yes, I think that the early absence of Zach Marshall was mystifying and concerning, and I was relieved. I think there's so much relief coming out of the U-TEP game to see him with his role back. I believe he led all tight ends in snaps. So like the tight-end room makes a lot more sense today than it did two weeks ago.

And yeah, I think we ultimately agree on Hoffman. His talent is as a pass catcher. They're asking him to, again, if these are familiar run plays where the tight end blocking is so consequential, that's just not where he excels. Well, and when he does excel, is a lead blocker. Yeah, yeah, he'll, yes, I've seen that comment. It's like, when he engages, he can drive forward.

Like he is Once he's connected, I don't care if it's a strong power And he's on a pull or if he's in motion If he's leading the way for Marshall or Heider, he's going to do a good job. Yeah. But if you have him in line next to Beagle

And then there's been this confusion on the line with communication and assignments. It's just not going to work, you know. So that's the free rusher problem. I'm going to skip the Bryce part because I basically. Yeah, we cut it. if that's okay and get into the defense. And then I just had a knock at the door. So I'm going to go grab that if you want to take this slide real quick.

Sure. So we, I mean, the defense hasn't had a lot to critique so far. If anything, it's the opposite. I think that my mantra the first couple weeks has been the other guy gets to say. So you can have a wide point spread. You can have the expectation of a dominant performance. But you have to get it. You still have to get it.

Now, U-TEP is fresh meat, right? Like, U-TEP physically, the way their offense works, I think was they set themselves up on a T for the Michigan defense. But what would a better defense do in that game? I'd be hard pressed to identify it. I think that the Michigan defense is so exciting at this point in time because you've got a combination of established talent that is doing what was expected of it, young talent behind those veterans who are showcasing above and beyond what was expected.

So you've got this unforeseen depth where you have an edge room that is relentless. It is unbelievable. And the current meta in football defense is like edge is life. And you've got so many incredible edges that your preseason starter, Cam Brand, who is supposed to play across the, the line from John Henry Daly, he's now a 270 pound defensive tackle. It's like, well, we got to, we have to give him a shot. We got to get him on the field, but we got too many incredible ends. Meanwhile, in the secondary, it's the same story. There are established starters, guys who came back,

guys who have put a ton of time and work in, and you trust them back there. And like the one question mark on this defense was linebacker. And the lineback room appears to be downloading the best coaching in the whole program where you're seeing mistakes corrected after a week. You're seeing depth that was unexpected. You're seeing responsibilities grow and expand. So I think that the defense is terrific. been proud of them all three weeks.

I think what's happening on defense is literally the opposite of offense, right? So coming out of the Western game, it was attacking folks like me and other, whatever you want to consider beat people that, oh, the fall hype and the lying and blah, blah, blah, and it never translates. And offense, again, I think we understand it's not the day one. We see the progress we've talked about it. On defense, though, go down the list.

And it's easy for me to now say like, oh, I'm not surprised because I've been saying these things, but like they were all the, on the positive end of what could happen, right? Yeah, I am surprised. I don't mind. Yeah. So you know enough from talking to me and then like,

obviously in the different communities that were at that like, some of the things I was pushing was anybody that brought up defensive line concern, I was like, no. Like, I love this defensive line group. but yes, defensive tackle. What was the question mark? Are Pierce and Eta ready to go from their role to a higher starter role?

Undoubtedly, yes. They both have been great. People were down on Jonah from Utah, the transfer. He's been a phenomenal DT3, pick six, right? And Winningham specifically said, you know, he's great at reading the screens or whatever. Kank has been playing, Pala Polly has been playing, but neither's really made a huge impact yet. But we've seen to your point the staff,

but Camp Brandt there because he's essentially already been passed by Nate Marshall. We've seen J.H.D. and Dom Nichols get roles at 3 Tech as well. Like, they're getting creative because they have so much debt at defensive end. The bony hype, real and beyond expectations. Dude, he is disgusting. I love that him and Meadows are the opposite. numbers. Yeah. It's so fun the freshman, the idea of those two pairing. Benny Patterson was another one. People were like, everyone just assumed he was going to play the interior. And I think it was

his dad maybe he had like tweeted like, no, this dude's playing edge. And everyone's like, okay. And he was so dead set on edge. And he looked really good. And he sort of looked really good. I get, I, I, I reveal my, you know, my paucity of ball knowledge here. But Benny Patterson is, he's not like a weak side, like a pure rush end, right? Like he's like a strong side worm. He's Taco Charlton, man. Yeah, okay. Yeah.

Yeah, he's, and it's just, it's the motor, it's the strength. It's what you want in the trenches, right? That dominance. And then the secondary, again, Jire Hill, will he take that CB1 step? Undoubtedly. Yep. And phenomenal. Yep.

You know, Smith Snowden, moving back outside instead of nickel. been great. Barry coming back. He's been great. Shamari Earle's been great. Bracey, you talked about, again, him and Snowden have been amazing.

Rod Moore looked a little rusty when it came to tackling the first couple games for a guy that hasn't played in two years. High tackle grade in this game,

much better playing there. But linebacker for me was a group. I was more optimistic than most because I've said multiple times the Troy Bulls. I like a fourth year senior player.

He spent two years at Georgia. He's a coach's son. He looked good at action last year. He's crazy fast. I don't know where this extra speed came from. He's been great. Staling is that high floor guy we expected. Chase Taylor's been improving.

NLB is playing. But for Ice Moa, and to your point about how easily digestible this defense is. Even Max Alford had that. You remember in 2016, Buddy Lee is like, oh, we're playing the relatives. That's how you know it's a good game. You remember the 78-0 game at Rutgers in 16?

And I think it was a young Ben Gettian. Some, you know, at the time, some third-string linebacker. And he had some upfield TFL. Like, it was a rush play, but it lost nine yards because he read it perfectly. Somehow Max Alford, like LB7 is making these perfect reads. that was the difference, by the way. That was the fourth quarter fuel goal drive for Utep. That might have been the difference between a touchdown and a fuel goal.

Like it was kind of consequential. 12 players had a tackle for loss. Yeah, dude. Come on. Now, okay, let's let's pivot. Because all this is great. Pivot? All this is, yeah, the couch. What does it mean for Iowa?

Yeah. So is this the, I know other people have seen this thing since, but with what is Iowa, right? I'm down on Iowa, right? I know the 3-0. I know they're ranked ahead of Michigan. I feel like they're ranked ahead of Michigan because of... Why would you be down on them coming off a 550-0 win just because the opponent is bad? That's what I can't understand. It's less about that and more about Iowa State.

I think people are forgetting how decimated that team is with Matt Campbell leaving and the entire roster and then potentially being one of the worst teams in the power for, arguably, right? I don't think they've played, especially defensively, anything in the same league of what makes. Michigan is. And their offensive line appears to be strong, statistically, analytically, whatever. I think there's reasons Connor, a friend of mine in the chat, I've been watching some of the tape. I think right tackle is very open for business, potentially, in this game as well. No, this isn't going to be like the easy blowouts in the past because you don't have

little ferrets running the offense anymore. it could absolutely be a slug fest because that's the kind of game they want it to be. But I just, I don't know. Maybe this is me where I was stubborn to my Oklahoma point from preseason. I'm staying there with Iowa too. I was not very high on Iowa coming into the year. So what they've done has just not impressed me to the point where I'm like, oh, maybe this is different. The running backs being healthy is an interesting piece.

because that is a loaded running back room. I'll give you that. So I'll say a couple of things. If Michigan had not put the ball on the ground versus UTEP, I might feel differently. But it did happen. It happened again. Michigan has a first half concentration issue.

And if that rears its head against Iowa, you will pay the ultimate price. But you're talking about Michigan beating Michigan, not Iowa beating Michigan. That is a different question. Can Michigan beat itself versus Iowa? Big time, yes. Michigan could absolutely implode against a team that loves tasty mistakes and, you know, give away 21 points and it's a horror show.

Well within the realm of possibility. if you if this if you pretend it's a video game and you set all the mistake sliders to zero can could iowa beat michigan straight up with no turnovers no you know blocked punts misfield goals i think it's still yes i think it's obviously a lot less likely i think that the open question Connor read my mind yes we'll get to him let me just this one just this one thing i think that the only open question is the Iowa offensive line has graded out exceptionally well, comparable to how well the Michigan defensive line has graded out. So if one of those is a mirage and one is not,

and if the Iowa offensive line is truly elite, and the Michigan defensive line has had the good fortune of feasting on cupcakes, including Oklahoma's offensive line, it's that bad, then, yes, you can see a straight up Iowa win. Now, Connor brought up an incredibly interesting point. There's a couple of people to credit here.

So I want to make sure so I spoke to Ronnie Harder, R. Harder 22, and then who was the other one who found this? I saw other people. Deeggneit. Deeggne 87. I just want to credit where I saw So Hank Brown, the Iowa starting quarterback, he has been in college since 2023.

He has participated in 10 total games across those years. He has never played in a road game. That's insane. Hank Brown has never been sacked ever. Per PFF, Hank Brown has only ever even been hit twice. So this is a good segue from Who's the Mirage? If the Michigan Defensive Front is real, Hank Brown is going to get squished,

because that is a crazy way to sort of introduce yourself to pressure. And I know we're down on the Oklahoma offensive line, and I know UTEP is UTEP. So like I can't, I can't downplay Iowa's and then play up Michigan's, you know, blades or resume against weak teams or whatever. But there's just stuff that translates to me visually on tape that makes me think the defensive line is more real than the offensive line from a barrage standpoint. No, I strongly agree with that.

It's physically, it's immediately obvious how explosive they are. I agree. I think that's fair. And you know I am a massive fan of the, we've already talked about, I think, twice on this show about pressure on a quarterback and how it impacts them. Yeah, especially in college. And not that I don't like sacks, but if a team has 27 pressures, and only one sack, I'm fine with that because of what the impact of all those pressures are. I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing, but I lean towards bad that I can't project what Hank

Brown's impact is going to be if the defensive line is getting pressure because he's never faced it. Right? That to me is like in Michigan Stadium. And if this crowd can do anything like they did against Oklahoma, that environment potentially against this defense, just, you know he started out the year really well and the Iowa offense people are high on, but like we're not that far from removed from where like all of the reports out of Iowa are like, we don't have a quarterback. Yes, I think that is fair, because it's a pretty fresh memory.

You know, three, four weeks ago, Iowa had a full length, you know, 11 on 11 scrimmage to determine QB1 and it was Hank Brown versus Hecklinsky. And at the time, yeah, there was a huge panic. All of the Iowa beat was like, quarterback is going to be a huge problem this year. Like, it's not figured out. So, you know, Hank Brown might be a gamer. He might be a guy who's just when the lights go on.

He locks in. But I guess you're right that there are, the level of competition has left some of the questions unanswered. Even if, as I always say, the other guy gets to say, so I was playing these cupcakes, the cupcakes could have put a scare on them and they didn't. They've shut up, they've shut both of them out. So Iowa hasn't done anything less than a really good team would do, you know?

Well, that's where, like I mentioned the, yeah, with him, I think he gets sacked and how he responds will be interesting. The running game for me, is probably the biggest thing because Michigan's run game has struggled or whatever term we want to put on it Jordan Marshall, according to Kyle Whittingham, came out healthier

from Utep than he did from over. Yeah, isn't that? That's bizarre because he got he got accordioned backwards and was limping. Yeah. And then Whitingham was like, like, actually, he's healthier now. Like, I believe it. It's just funny. Yeah, and I believe it too, because, because he's been clearly dealing with something all year and, you know, that's whatever. And in Heider, I didn't think was even going to play potentially Saturday because he hadn't

practice either, resting something he's been dealing with. So, and the offensive line shuffles and things we've talked about. So against good or bad opponents, like Iowa has been dominant running and has, I don't know what the latest update is on a couple of their backs being healthy, but I mean, they've got three, four, five, if all healthy, really, really good running backs. Yeah. Be with what your net at done and whatever, but. I think that on a flat track, you would say the combination of the two teams' offensive lines

and running backs might favor Iowa, frankly. But Bryce Underwood is the five star. he's had two straight weeks of improvement and the light going on versus Hank Brown, who is like statistically one of the most untested quarterbacks. For a guy who's been in college since 2023, there's just, there's no telling what his first pressure is going to do. Yeah. And somebody brought up too, they're like, oh, he was 12 for 12 against Northern Iowa.

his average depth of target was like three arts right and again so what you can done some of that with bryce too like the short screens and whatever yes if if iwa thinks they're going to dunk dunk their way down against michigan they're not going to be able to because the linebackers have been good and because smith snowdon and jyer hill and chris bracy and rodmore are excellent on the perimeter setting an edge impacting their run game or or detecting those screens we just to joan of the pick six picking up the screens right so like the the path for me with iowa is if they actually can protect hank brown and michigan doesn't get pressure or if the run game is strong enough for the long drives to limit possessions or to fit

you know force michigan into a situation where they can't go one dimensional one way or the other yeah i think if you if you came to me from the future and you showed me only one number from the box score and it was Hank Brown pass attempts I think that's what would help me guess who won if Hank Brown has like 12 pass attempts that's probably a good thing for Iowa yeah they're running the ball or the defense is getting scores or they're just they're in the punt fest that like suits the program. And if he has like 30 pass attempts, there are toast. Like that would be, well, maybe that's famous last words.

But I just think, I don't think Iowa wants to put this game in Hank Brown's hands. I don't think that might be too obvious to be interested. 100%. 100%. Yeah. I mean, that's it, right? Yeah. I know we're like running long or off track.

No, let's keep going because we did we did so much rear facing Utep stuff. We got to talk about. Craig always has good questions, but we've kind of touched on this already about, you know, the defenses and Mirage versus Real. And you accidentally said, you think Iowa is better than Oklahoma defense. But I know what you were trying to say, which is how good Phil Parker always is. And like, this is a group coming into the year that they thought, okay, why is Iowa defense normally really, really good experience? right like they they they tend to have dudes stick around there they're not a program with a bunch of dudes transferring in and out whatever they've got their factory of linebackers that they get and it seems

like the same defense i mean for a while there they literally had the same last name but like they're going to have a defensive end they're going to have these linebackers they're going to have a corner that's better than you expected right yeah all true yeah but from a returning production thing which is something we really focus on a lot This wasn't one of his more experienced groups. So that's why like, hey, these three games, maybe Phil Parker's done it again, right? That Connor's got a good point to like the assignment assignment football. That really, in the Big Ten championship games, that was what always stuck out to me.

It was like, man, they just always do the right thing. Right? Like you, you talked about Michigan's touchdowns all coming on, not necessarily blown assignments, but like, busts, coverage. Bus, right. You just don't see, it's so rare with an Iowa team that you're going to catch two guys pointing at each other because one of them did the wrong thing. Yeah, it works and it makes sense in the same way that the Jay Hill, Michigan defense does.

Like, it's digestible. They keep their players forever. So by the time you're starting, you've already, you know this playbook, like, the back of your hand. And so that's probably another reason why my Oklahoma comparison was stupid, because Venables in Oklahoma, it's pure chaos on purpose. Like it can just explode in any direction. They want 1,000 TFLs.

Iowa is like, we know you're a college offense. Go ahead and make a mistake. We'll be right here waiting for you. And it's smart. So you've, sorry, you've got on here that the points allowed, yards allowed. are you taking the Iowa State game it's like to me what Michigan did against Oklahoma is really impressive as far as what the defense was able to do holding them to 10 and it was really just that one drive coming out in the third quarter right and

and velocity down on Iowa State man I don't I don't know like I think we're used to those games being competitive in Iowa State whatever with Matt Campbell but like I can't even remember who they hired now off the top of my head, but it's his roster largely that transferred over, right? Yeah, it's a completely new. Northern Iowa, too. I had to look. It was the Drake head coach they hired last year.

So Northern Iowa is a program that's given Iowa. I think they beat them not that long ago. But, you know, it's done pretty good in the Missouri Valley, but they were three and nine last year under their new head coach. So Northern Iowa was three and nine in the FCS last year. And what was Northern Illinois? Do they still have Thomas Hammock? Did he go somewhere?

He took a job somewhere, didn't he? Oh, yeah, he's the running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks. Yeah, I was going to say they have, oh, it's an interim coach, Rob Harley. I remember, I remember thinking, Rob Harley, I know. All right, so. What do you know that mean? Sorry, we're off. No, it's actually not that off track because I think you're painting a picture for me of the quality of these opponents.

They're pretty bad. Yeah, okay. Yeah. Okay. I think it's easy because of like what those teams have met in the past in Iowa football games, right? But like, here, I wonder if I could find, oh, God, Utep is still 1 30th. And as people. Well, that's almost FBS at least.

Well, that's interesting. UMass is 3 and still below. How funny is that? All right. UMass is 3 and O, but ranked under 130th? Yeah. Yeah, they're 131. They're ranked below U-TEP at 3-0.

Oh, can you pull this up from David Pruden? Because I think this is an interesting point. So Isaiah Satania, for the Oklahoma wide receiver, he was the only thing going against New Mexico. Now, I feel that the Oklahoma post-game coverage has been a total dismissal of the New Mexico program. And it's just this catastrophe looking inward about how bad Oklahoma is and Benibles is.

I don't think that's giving New Mexico enough credit. We saw Jason Eck the year before, right? Yeah, yeah. And so I think, I don't know, where New Mexico scores in SP Plus defense. I think it's obviously the better of the two units, and I think it's probably a top 25 unit. And I think Eck is

the same way that I praised Lance Taylor, the Western coach. Like, Eck is a Big Ten coach this time next year. That New Mexico program is so solid. The defense is really good. And Satania lit them up. Satania is the only thing going for Oklahoma right now. And

he has a legit depth of target. He has crazy good, like hips. and Twitch. So I actually think this is a point pretty well taken by David, where Iowa, which is usually focusing all of its passing offense to a tight end, they have a feel-good story at tight end. He's a local.

He's an in-state boy who was a zero-star recruit. I think he started as a walk-on. And he's, you know, he's like a capable tight-end one. But he's not going to get drafted. He's not like the Iowa tight ends of old. And so the absolute plurality of their passing goes through Tony Diaz, who, as you mentioned, he has, he's sort of like a Wes Welker. He has this three-yard depth of target. He gets the ball, and then it's on him to whatever comes next.

So, you know, I've asked the question about Mirage, but I think Michigan can review its satania tape if it really wants to, like, pump itself up because that guy is a one-man offense. And yeah, whatever, whatever, whatever you built for him, build something like that for Tony Diaz and it'll go a long way. I think to the, the, the, um, yeah, with him too, it's so interesting because we talked about low average depth of target yards after catch and then against Iowa State, it was the opposite, right? They went more downfield with him and he didn't have a ton of yak. Most of his yak just comes from being open field, right? He's not a guy that's breaking a ton of tackles or whatever.

Was he the one that made the comment? Yes. Yes. Now, I don't think, I don't think, I don't think there, I think it was a completely innocuous conversation. I don't think the reporter meant to stir anything up. And I don't think Diaz meant to insult the Michigan defense. But yes, what came out was man-to-man defense is like being a kid in a candy store.

And then Rod Moore retweeted it and a couple of people have said like, Nothing gets by Rod Moore. The defensive backsteads like really take a notice of that comment. So if they like, if there's some extra punishment on Diaz for that, I would kind of feel bad for him because he wasn't talking trash. I think he was just saying a wide receiver prefers man to man because it gives you more opportunities. I mean, it's just better.

It's more comfortable trying to beat a guy over the top than trying to sit down and find, find a hole in the zone. Which, you know, it's out there. I don't want to read into it too much because players say things. You're 100% right. But when you are coming from, I don't even, oh, Connor, you're on it today. I was going to say, I couldn't even remember. it's the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is where he transferred from.

So that's where he played. What are they what's there? Yeah, see what they're. Yeah, see what they're masked. That's where he played previously and he's played almost nobody defensively in his first three games. So when you talk about, they're the vaceros. I like that. The what?

Vaceros. What is that? Spanish for cowboys. Oh, that is fun. I like that. When you talk about Jire Hill has only been targeted four times this year, and he's allowed two receptions for negative three yards. That's crazy.

Smith Snowden is allowing a under 50% completion rate. He has one pass breakup on the 11 targets. Again, he's been impacting the run game. Five of his seven tackles are defensive stop failures. go bracy occasionally yeah um and smy earls and his limited action is only allowed two receptions on six targets two pass breakups right and zeke berry should be back and healthy this week um luck dude i'm sorry if if he torches this michigan secondary then i will i will give him props but like the guy that's throwing him the football potentially facing pressure he's never faced before

again, I go back to Mouton and some of the other guys in the run game. Just that's to me the game. So that's an interesting piece of it too is, does Iowa immediately and almost Jim Harbaal-esque just lean on its run game until it has no choice? Yes, I think so. I think if Iowa expects to win and they want to win and they plan to win, they have to make hay on the ground. The Michigan linebackers are the only defensive position group that are still learning week by week.

It's where everything's not downloaded yet. They can get got. So you have to call some really great running plays that get the linebackers where you want them, where they don't want to be. That's how Iowa makes it say. Michigan has to get a good Bryce Underwood. Yeah.

I think that if Michigan succeeds in sort of conventional rush offense against this Iowa defense, that would be found money. That would be a very pleasant surprise because we still, we haven't seen that against. That's a good point. That's built into this. Yeah. components. Yeah. So I think right now, like the line favoring Michigan and the imputed score and all that, like, it's predicting one or two Bryce Underwood passing touchdowns. Do you know what I mean? Like you're, unless, unless you get some found money on the ground and you're, and you have. Now, maybe that happens because Michigan made a fix from week one to week two that I,

that I didn't think was possible in one week. After the Western game, you know me, I doomed the Oklahoma matchup. I said, this is going to be like 2007 when Oregon came to town. And Michigan, to its absolute credit, staff, player, everyone, made a week one to week two improvement

that allowed Michigan to win, you know, not comfortably, but convincingly. Same thing here. It's like, we haven't really seen it until the second half of the Utah, game, is that because U-TEP is U-TEP or is that because you figured something out? If you figured something out and you can run for like 180, four yards of pop versus Iowa,

Michigan's going to win. But if not, you need good Bryce. If you get good Bryce, you can win because your defense is going to do its job against Hank Brown. If you're Iowa, you have to make hay on the ground. So I was just kind of looking at some prop bets because I was interested along the lines of what you're talking about. And Marshall is at 105 to score. So basically even Underwood's at plus 110.

So those two are close to toss up. Jordan Marshall? Yeah. 105 to score a rushing touchdown? Anytime. Yep. And then Hiders plus 125. So all three of those guys are near.

So they're expecting rushing touchdown at least one. Okay. What's interesting is those are the only three players with odds better than plus 1,700. The only one's actually better than 1,000 to score two touchdowns. Oh. Oh. So Muton, 1700, JJ, 1700, and down it goes. So Marshall's plus 600, $600.

Underwood plus seven, Hyder plus 850 to score two touchdowns. Sorry. Let me, this is for both teams. So you're saying all three of Bryce, Savion, and Jordan have better odds to

each score two touchdowns than Kumari Molten has. Yeah, he's plus 1,700. And he's plus 185 to be an anytime score. Diaz is plus 300. So the prop bets are always interesting to me because I agree. That's informative. I find those can be a little bit more reflective of what Vegas actually thinks is going to happen.

Right. Like sometimes the betting line, like they're not a lot of times they're right with what they predict. Right. But like what we saw with the Oklahoma game was they're manipulating it to have their liability where they want it. Right. So they come out with six and a half for Oklahoma. Everybody's hammering Oklahoma. and they're moving it towards Michigan,

where it should be going the other way if you think, right? So that was a clear indication. Like they think Michigan's winning that football game, right? Bryce throwing the ball. They have him negative 236 to get a passing touchdown. Yeah, that makes, so that tracks for me with the line itself.

If you're going to favor Michigan by more than home field advantage, obviously you have to score a touchdown somehow and I think that last week probably gave more faith in the betters in Bryce throwing than Michigan running. Did you agree with that? Yeah, 100%. I just think, you know, when I look at this idea of if I'm trying to be extra optimistic on the Michigan end, right? I agree with everything that you have up here, the four and a half, the low over under, we've seen people predicting 2117, like that feels that way, right?

I think four touchdowns exist here for Michigan. That would win. 28 would absolutely win the game. Yeah, because I don't see the defense giving up more than that. The number forever I've always talked about, at least in the horrible years, it was 30. If Michigan gave up more than 30, TCU, Michigan State, they lost. Yeah. right if they scored more than 30 keep the opponent this this sounds very john madden asked right if you

score more than 30 and the opponent scores less than 30 you know the table scores most points to win the football game but 30 always felt like that number with the offense operating the way it is right now with the defense as a lead as it is and in a game against iowa 20 feels like that number And if you're asking me, would I bet on Michigan giving up more than 20? Like, I think they're holding under 20. Would I bet that Michigan could score four touchdowns or three in a field goal? Yes. So, like, I see like a 24 to 10 game.

I just do. And that's me being high. And I know more about Michigan than I do Iowa. That's just a fact right. But that's just me being high on Michigan's defensive line being real. again, in this Mirage argument, I'm higher on Michigan. I'm higher on Bryce's progress. I think the running game and the adjustments Beck has made,

especially in the second half from a scheme and personnel standpoint, are encouraging enough that, like, I think this will be the cleanest offensive performance. And I think the defense is going to meet the moment against a quarterback that's never seen pressure before and a wide receiver that thinks he's about to have a field day on an island against currently the best island defender in college football. I think that if we go all the way back to the start of the conversation about Michigan playing with joy, I think that because the defense has confidence and has that day one readiness,

they can really help their brothers out. And I think there is a world. I'm not predicting it. But I do think there's a scenario where it's like 10-0 or 14-0 Michigan after one quarter, and it's a joyful day. Because even in the, even certain in the Iowa best case scenario, it's not really built for that situation. Yeah.

And I also, just to balance the scales, you know, if Michigan puts the ball on the ground two, three times in the first quarter again, that's a good point. This is not UTEP where talent is ultimately going to just win out and dominate. And it's like, it's okay. Oh, that's okay. You can fumble three times and still win. You're not going to.

So the first quarter is going to, I think, tell us everything. And maybe. Yeah, Bryce fumbling and giving up a short field is you just can't do it. Deadly. Yeah. So, I mean, that kind of goes right into, I mean, we've talked about this already, but a nice little. putting it together here. The three things you're watching in this game, the giveaways.

Yeah, this is ultimately, so if it's close, I think that's where number three comes in because this has always been sort of a special teams matchup. Iowa has incredible punt block, punt return, kickers, punters, etc. Michigan has finally sort of catching up under Kerry Coombs. I think we've finally cleaned it up. but really it's truly Michigan ball security is the difference between like my outcome and a closer one well say what my outcome and a closer game yeah exactly exactly like it it just it's by far the most consequential thing for me it is out of everything that is in a player's control or a coach's control what play do we call here?

Who do we give it to? Who do we target? All of that is secondary behind ball security. Because like, let's face it. If you have no turnovers and you're punting all the time, you can still win. Against Iowa punting is winning. If you give them the ball at the plus 10, you can't. Cough is coming up on me.

Yeah, no, I mean Even Even the U-TEP game The blown fourth down The busted coverage But then the short feel I mean, that's their only points, right? Right, that game with

So U-TEP without the Michigan Turnovers is probably is what is that? It's like 59 to 3 Yeah, yeah And even Oklahoma's a I've said too With the penalties like Right

You can do if then for both sides, right? It's done like, yeah, if Michigan had played a perfect game, they would have won by more obvious. Feeling better about the penalties, fortunately. I do think that because that's opponent invariant, right? Whether you hold a guy or whether you fall starter, the pre-stap motion stuff, that was just infuriating, right? I think that going all the way back to the Western game, the, there was, wasn't there a martial run to the two that was called back to, you know, first and goal from the two became first and 20. Yeah.

Whole game would have been different. Yeah, and charted. There was four first downs lost. Yeah, that's crazy. So if that's healed and cured and fixed, that makes all the difference as well. If you told me, if you came back from the future and you said Michigan had no penalties in this game,

Doc. Michigan, no turnovers in this game? Michigan wins. Michigan, two turnovers, Michigan loses. Do you feel me? You know what I'm saying? I'm just sorry. It's been brought to my son, like with his diagnosis and then like me and my wife basically finding out like our stuff.

I've become aware that like quick, like you say things and it triggers like a movie reference or a song. And you said back to the future. I went, Doc. Like I had to say it that way. It's just my little tisms. I get it. I want to button up a couple show things real quick. For those just joining, we are not eating the wings like we had promised.

We didn't want to be welchers. We're not welching at the very start. So we have double the bet where we will not only eat wings, but we will eat like the spiciest, hottest, full of regret wings. Fireball challenge wings. If Michigan, now we need you to chime in. Right. Is it just money line?

Is it just Michigan wins the game? And we have to do it or if Michigan covers four and a half. Let us know. That's exactly right. Yeah, so you tell me in the comments, does Michigan have to cover or will you let us get away with just a Michigan win? And then also, um, well, it's not getting, we, we, we, you and I want the cover because if it's just a way. Obviously. If it's any Michigan win.

Sherry on Facebook, Iowa fans that she's traveling Saturday. Very cool. Uh, wondering where us Iowa fans can tailgate. Look forward to a great game. Uh, shameless plug, obviously. If you're hoping to just park. go to a tailgate, Blue By 90. We're the best Michigan tailgate here in the stadium.

If you go to our site, Blueby90.com, you can find our tailgate information. If you're looking to set up shop, then right by the stadium, look up Pioneer High School or Ann Arbor Golf Club, and you can find Parky Passes that are, what, like $90 now or something like that? It's just, like, outrageous how much those have got. But yeah, obviously you would be more than welcome to stop by the Blue By 90 tailgate. hang out if you do. All right. So ball security. For me, I don't know if I'm like not as worried about the turnovers or what, but like the pressure versus Brown to me is such a,

such a massive part of the game. It's pretty crazy. Yeah. Yeah. So like I really like this mirage. You know how I am with narratives. I really like this mirage thing, though, because there's a world where one team comes out of this going, oh, man, is our defensive line not as good as we thought? Or is our offensive line not as good? Or maybe they're both great and it's an incredible battle, I guess. I don't know. But Brown not getting pressured and not throwing a pick with what my eyes have seen regardless of opponent in terms of the defensive front and the secondary.

I just, I feel like they're going to get to him. I feel like he's not going to complete at a high rate. I feel like he's going to turn it over. Actually, maybe that's my point is maybe I think there's more margin for error for Bryce to potentially have a turnover because I think Michigan's defense is going to get turnovers in this game. Maybe. I definitely think a side conversation coming out of this is going to be about scheduling.

And the winning fan base will say, if it's Michigan, we needed those times. tough games to get us to prepare us for Big Ten play. Look how it helped. Oh, what a good point. If it's Iowa, they'll say, like, it's great to keep our powder dry until the real season starts when Michigan came in here all freaked out or whatever. Yeah. And I think, I think that obviously, like, a lot of the media talking head stuff is going to be who's a fraud. They love that stuff. Um, but I think, I think there's going to be a scheduling conversation after this game because Oklahoma was a real point of of confrontation in the Michigan fan base. Why did we schedule? Why did we do this when we have

Oregon and Ohio State on the road and we play Indiana and Penn State? Why, why, why? Well, that you had a week two like heavyweight brawl and Iowa has not. So, We'll see. We'll see if that's because clearly that has that has impacted this pocket number for Hank Brown. Yeah. And the scheduling part is so interesting too because like the projecting out piece of it, right? So Michigan scheduled Texas and Oklahoma at a time where they were getting hammered for Cupcake scheduling. And there was only four teams getting into the playoffs.

So like you had to win the big 10. Yeah. So it was like, well, as long as we beat Ohio State, that's priority one, two, and three. And then we're going to play a Big Ten West school that never won a Big Ten championship. Wisconsin did in the previous legends and leaders, right? But like that was the format. And then Michigan can't back out of these games because they were tied to the TV contracts and ESPN and SEC and Texas and Oklahoma being able to leave early. right so and now we're going to enter a world very likely where there's going to be a 24 team

playoff and the conferences seem at least very open or even eager to make sure every conference is playing at least in the power right playing nine conference games and one crossover which me you and our friend you and see have talked about if I'm going to get 24 teams, if I can get nine with a guaranteed P4 crossover, that's a tradeoff. Excuse me, that's a tradeoff I'm willing to take. So, but yeah, in the narrative of this year, man, it's going to be interesting. Come playoff time, team, time too. Like, is the, there's, it feels like this is finally going to be the year where the CFP

is going to have to decide, like, are we going to put in a team with a worse record? I mean, it's happened already in terms of, like, lower. conference, but like we've talked about the Penn State versus Michigan debate, a nine to three Michigan with a win over Penn State, 10 and two Penn State lost Michigan to see, whatever. But yeah, if they start rewarding these teams for soft schedules, it's, yeah, I don't know. There's always the what happens after a winner or loss too, right? Because if Michigan loses to Iowa and we go back to our formula, we talked about before, where like you can't lose to Iowa, you can't lose to Penn State.

And Iowa can lose to Michigan and be like, yeah, the rest of the rest of Iowa was scheduled is winnable, extremely winnable. They could still get into the Big Ten title game with a loss to Michigan. Michigan could not run the table after an Iowa loss, most likely. All right. We have a request in the comments. Can you guys do a quick. side note on Western and

Boise State. Well, they're both Broncos. I believe Boise is favored by seven. What do you, I don't, what do you want us to talk about? I think, I'll tell you what I want to talk about. Yeah. Which is, it's been another excuse

for the complete, the complete, bullshit narrative of Western, Western actually won the football game because what ended up happening at some point between the Mac and Western Michigan accepting the Big Ten's decision and Western realizing or somebody in the Mac, a lawyer realizing this could cost you a playoff spot in millions of dollars was this campaign to at least make people say Western one. right and the nc double a puts out an unprecedented statement saying we can't reverse the call but we're going to totally tell you western would have won just never seen anything like this 12 days

after they said they weren't going to put out another statement and again in reality it's this drastic misunderstanding that the actual game clock the in stadium clock is what the big 10 used Anyway, you have the Boise State head coach who needs this, the winner of this game right now could be the G6 team that makes the 12th team playoff. Like that's potentially how much this game matters. So you have Boise State saying, oh, Western's undefeated. They beat Michigan. They need this win to matter a ton because as much as playing Oregon close matters, it's not beating Oregon, right? and as much as Western played Michigan.

Right. So like both sides are trying to play this up. As far as what does Michigan want, I don't, I don't know. Like does it matter if, if Western continues to look really good? Because of the narrative that's been set. If Michigan won on the first Hail Mary and it took a Hail Mary to beat Western, but none of this clock narrative is there and Western goes undefeat or, you know, on defeat the rest of the way, 11 and 1 and makes the playoff,

yeah, that probably benefits Michigan. But at this point, either way, nothing helps Michigan because of the narrative that's been set around this stupid clocks. Yeah, I would only say two things. I'd say if you're a Michigan fan and your priority is for this story to go away, you would want Boise State to destroy Western. And the other thing I would say from the Michigan perspective is it's a shame for the Michigan players that this falls on them because they have nothing to do with clock operation. But it's unfortunately sort of a baptism by fire where because of the frenzy, you have to play your way out of this. So if you're associated with the Michigan football team in any way, you're not really thinking about Western versus Boise. Maybe the CFP will weigh some stuff.

But from the Michigan perspective, you have to play your best ball moving forward. That will help people more than whatever Western does. But for immediacy's sake, if you're just a Michigan fan, and it's like bothering you, then you want Boise State to beat Western like 50 to nothing. Because then the refrain is, oh, Michigan lost to a Western team that wasn't actually good. But that's like, that's it.

That's sort of the final. That's sort of the final line of. The death of Western's playoff candidacy, though, does, I didn't look at it that way. That's an interesting point. Like once you eliminate their CFP candidacy, it becomes less about them being robbed. Exactly.

And Michigan cheated or whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. But I think that that's just if you're, that's just if you're a fan. This is what I want. I want some sort of clock chaos. That's what I want.

Boise wins on the last play. Yeah, something crazy, 100%. I didn't fill it in. So we're blank here. Yeah, that's, I'm fine with that. I already said my score and I'm such a range. What are you saying? 2410 Michigan?

Yeah. And I'm, I'm almost like almost ready to give Michigan more points than that. But I won't. I don't think Iowa scores more than 10 or 13. I don't think Michigan scores less than 20. I think it's more likely Michigan scores 30 than they score less less than 20. Which seems crazy. You think it's more likely that Michigan scores over 30 than they score under

20? Yeah. I don't see the 1710 game. I don't. Oh, that's exactly what I see. I think it's going to be 1310, whoever. So you think we're getting the ugly. Is that because there's turnover? I think I was good. They're mature. They, it's a style of ball that travels. They're not going to be like intimidated or anything we don't michigan's rush offense is not like it's not in a paving state so i i just think yeah it's going to be i'm defaulting to close all the way because i think the first quarter could go pear-shaped in one direction or another i think that if Michigan, you know, has two offensive drives at like seven yards per play and it's 14 nothing and Hank Brown is just soiling himself, then you're like, okay, this is not going to be

1310. Yeah. And in the other direction, if it, if the first quarter we put the ball on the ground twice and it's suddenly 10-0, Iowa, now you've put yourself in a hole and it's not going to be 13-10. So I'm massaging that out to a really conservative game by both teams. I think there's two lines of thought here. And I'm a little disappointed in myself. I'm usually pretty good at convincing you or at least getting you closer to my side.

And I've failed to do that this week. I think there is the status quo that you believe everything we think we know is true. and nothing different will happen in this game for both teams, right? That tends to be the national guys narratives that have to know everything about college football and not each team, right? Which is what? That the Michigan offense will struggle to run the ball, maybe turnover is become an issue, the defense we don't know how good it is. Iowa, man, Hank Brown has been so great. The offense has been explosive.

The offensive line is great. Phil Parker's defense is always great. We're going to get an ugly Michigan, Iowa. Slugfest, old school big 10 game. I think we've seen since Western, a staff and a team that publicly and privately call out issues and adjust week to week and in game. And I think that we've seen progress at a level

where I think the run game will be better this week. I think the turnovers will be, even if one happens, of an issue than the concern we had going into Oklahoma. I think the defense is real. It's not a mirage. It's top five in the country, if not better. It's legit.

On the Iowa end, I think the offensive line and not being tested, and Hank Brown, man, to me, that is just such a massive X factor. And that's that, like, they're assuming this guy that's never played a road game before and never been hit at quarterback, either still, won't be or will somehow be completely he's been built for it all along. Yeah. Right. So let me ask you it. For me it's the opposite. I don't think a status quo holds here. And I've been trying to think of a comparison because I love them so much.

And I lost it now. Connor nailed it for me. 2021 Michigan going to Wisconsin. And what was the line in that game? I don't remember. but like this just feels like a game where like yeah Michigan isn't allowed to get better yeah I just I feel like this is a game where Michigan takes another step of progress and continues to look better in the Western game I told you was Western Fresno State was it indicative or an anomaly and it continues to look more and more like an anomaly I agree with you I understand you on the first quarter part you're 100% right

right like that that's been an issue which makes me think it's going to get it corrected in some respect Bryce has shown he can win with his legs and his arm I just I feel like this will be Michigan's most complete game I don't think they're blowing out Iowa per se right but just don't I don't I didn't have faith in Iowa at the beginning of the year I'm not going to all of a sudden believe they're juggernauts because of the teams they beat and I like where Michigan's heading so I'm just I'm more confident that this can be an offense that scores four touchdowns. I will plead guilty to over-indexing on the Western game still. It's not washed out of my mouth yet.

Let me ask you this. If you replaced the Western game with Michigan beats Cal 21 to 14, what's the line? on this Iowa game and what's your prediction? So you're probably, I mean, it matters how they won, right? But I'm just bland. Just no, no, no nothing, just. I think Michigan's probably what, eight and a half, nine and a half favorite. Instead of four and a half.

Yeah. And I think, I mean, I guess that's what I'm, you know what you just did? I'm building an extra, almost another touchdown into this. I mean, that's where I'm at, right? I wouldn't say 10 and a half, but like, I'm closer to that than I am to a one point victory. You know, and I'm just, I think, and you, I think you can understand this.

I'm really holding my breath the whole first half. Yeah. I'm going, look, I've been. a Michigan fan long enough to know I've gone into games and thought Michigan was going to do XYZ and then been very uncomfortable and upset going to halftime, right? Again, people's revisionist history. That was most of the Harbaugh era, right? Like, there's blowout wins against Penn State and other teams where it's like that I brought up the Northwestern game where Evan Hull had that really long touchdown run the other day where it's like, how is this game close, right?

But even in that scenario, Jay Hill has already shown the 2023 vibes and his mentor-esque adjustments, he's already shown. And Beck showed it week to week a little bit, and he showed it in a half last week. And I just, I feel like what those errors are have been condensed. And I feel like their ability to adjust the amount of time it takes has been condensed. and I have a feeling this was just a good week of practice. And if they're still healthy, right? That's the other thing too. Like, we'll see.

We always get those Friday surprises or whatever. But like, if Marshall truly is the best version of himself coming into this game. And Haider, people forget, as highly, you know, heralded as he is, as a true freshman, looked the most like his high school tape Saturday, not just because it was against U-Tap, but the way he was running, right? I made a joke about on the touchdown run where he took out the lineman.

I'm like, I don't think he even had to do that. What did I just truck the dude over? You know, so I don't know. I think it's at some point I have to, I have to bet on Beck and Harding and these guys to run the ball because if it's a fourth game, if not, then that's 33% of the year where Michigan didn't have a run game. And that's shocking, right? But I don't know.

But why would it start now against Iowa? I don't think it starts now, though. That's kind of my point, right? Like, we've already seen the progress against Oklahoma and then second half. Yeah, you had the Bryce against Oklahoma. You had the second half against U-Tet. You've figured out rotating your guard. and not taking Western seriously was stupid and running 70% of your snaps at Rhino was stupid.

Not using Zach Marshall as an inline blocking tight end was stupid. Not letting Jalen Hoffman be your lead blocker as a true Hback was stupid. Running constant motion and perimeter runs on 80% of the time was stupid. Not utilizing inside zone and only doing, you know, thinking that has to be gap runs, but you're all about your outside zone was stupid. You've acknowledged all of those mistakes and either shown it already. on the field or said publicly, like, we have to, like, I just, I think they figured out a lot of

the mistakes and they've corrected them so far. I think that's fair. That's fair. And again, I go back to the beginning of the year. Which game were you more worried about, Oklahoma or Iowa coming into the year? Oh, I certainly had Oklahoma as a more likely loss. Yeah. Yeah.

So what since Oklahoma happened has made you less confident that they'd be? at Iowa. That's a totally fair question and that's where I'm guilty of continuing to over-index the Western game. Is it the Western game or is it the two fumbles that weren't fumbles for Bryce? Right.

Those close... Yeah, it's ball security because that hasn't really improved. I think that from Bryce it has you made the point that he had what did you say? He had five interceptions. He had five fumbles. No, he had, but in Western alone, Oh, he threw five interceptable balls.

Yeah, turnover worthy plays. Yeah. And then it was down to whatever one in the last two games. Yeah, he had one against Metsup to throw to Travis Johnson. Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, it's a totally fair point. I guess the only other thing is we've seen plenty of Big Ten teams with a pulse over the years. not do what Iowa has done.

Like Mark D'Antonio Michigan State would constantly underperform against a northern Iowa or eastern Michigan equivalent and then, you know, kick Michigan's behind. So I'm just not, to me, 550 is 550. So I have a healthy respect for the Iowa team that's coming in, I think. That's all. Okay, and that's fair.

but I think it's more for the Hank Brown the Hank Brown situation is is undeniably fascinating that a guy who's that old has never been hit ever yeah I think maybe that's what's really sticking out to me and and Connor said to like who do you think has the better quarterback in this game it has to be Bryce I mean by a lot no no like literally like right now who do you think not like who has to have it but like who do you think has the better quarterback Michigan right and who has the better probably Michigan wow see I'm super confident it's Michigan that's interesting

Mr. Buckner thinks Iowa is better than Oklahoma and has a better QB I think the hate for Mater has gone to an absurd yeah that's I don't agree with that I think that Oklahoma is in for a really rough ride I think that Oklahoma I think that Iowa will have a much better record than Oklahoma yeah I think I think that you

could argue Iowa is a better team than Oklahoma, but I guess I'm going to be the world's last John Materia defender. Like that team is busted. The offensive line is busted. If you watch the Oklahoma postgame material, they are screaming their head off about the running back rotation. They're playing five running backs and giving them all like seven carries apiece. They have no cohesion.

It's not a room with like a pecking order and a set. So John Mateer is, he's sort of been hung out to dry. I understand, like, he has these gunslinger mechanics and he's not, you know, going to be an NFL quarterback, fine. But, like, that is not a well-oiled machine on offense that he is disappointing. Like, he is the only, him and satania are basically the only thing, only guys, like, trying to do anything. Yeah.

I think what we're seeing is how. much momentum and narrative is real. It's so real. Because compared to last year. This is my lifelong take is that this, the reason college football is so magical is because it's more real than any other sport, how much this snowballs and matters. It's like the boulder and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Once this thing gets going, it matters. It chases you. In 2025, Bryce plays terrible. against Oklahoma. Yeah. And the Michigan situation spirals to the level. I don't think anybody thought.

In Oklahoma, John Mateer becomes a Heisman frontrunner, and Brent Venables gets a contract extension. Yeah, 50 million guaranteed. If 2026 game happens in 2025, does Bryce have, again, it's stupid because of everything else that was happening externally with Shur or more, but Oklahoma doesn't roll into the SEC and dominate the level that they did before Mateer's injury.

Brian Venables probably isn't the coach at Oklahoma right now if Michigan won last year. Like, I know fan-based narrative isn't the same thing as an athletic director's decision. No, I see how mad they are at him right now. Well, it took me a minute. Because, you know. Yeah, he's safer now than he was last year because of the guaranteed money. Like you know. Yeah, that's a total.

Yeah, that part, yeah. but again like mater is exactly who he is and has been you brought up before yeah he's been at that oc for how long yeah don't be so don't be so shocked by john matere like yeah yeah i agree come on all right so um again we'll do i i haven't seen enough responses but i i if they don't that i'm going to give us the gift of cover for the wings yeah that because that was last week it was what crosses 50. They'll score 50 points. So let's do so if Michigan covers

four and a half as a favorite versus Oklahoma we are going to do we're going to double down on the wings and eat we're going to do some freakish fireball challenge. Yeah for you the fans. I've already

sourced mine. Okay. Joey's wings in Westwood. So my favorite wing places are a couple pizza joints around here and I don't know if they're anything other than like a hot buffalo and I don't want to do blazing from Bdubs because I just Bdubs wings are gross now like yeah I've realized like and you know things that make you feel older or whatever um obviously with my job at the paper I'm around like high school kids covering high school sports or whatever if you think like if you remember when Bdubs was cool you're old thanks but you're yeah guilty as charged

yeah I was a freshman at Michigan again, the B-dubs at the north end of State Street. Yeah. It's like the hottest, the hottest new ticket in town. We went to, this is going to sound incredibly old, but me and a couple friends went to a new mall that had just opened. And they had a B-dubs, and we didn't even have one like near us, right? Like, you used to have to drive do a B-dubs.

Like, there wasn't one here in town. So we're like, oh, we should go to Buffalo. while the ways. And we sit down and like having a lot of beer selection wasn't a common thing. Having craft beer or like being here in Michigan and it was like, oh my God, craft beer on tap and all these sports on TV and whatever. We ended up being there for eight hours. We had lunch and then we were there long enough that we ended up ordering dinner too. And like I remember we each gave the wage just like 50 or 70 bucks or something tip. And she was like, oh my gosh, thank you so much. we're like, well, how much would you have made if like multiple people at the table?

Like, I don't think we're actually, you know, but I was like, I don't think you could pay me to spend eight hours in a B-Dubs now. Not with a kid. Oh, God, yeah. Not taking him nor abandoning him, right? Yeah. That's so funny. All right, let me get all. Major wife price to pay there.

She, it's fine, I'm laughing as she used to love beat-ups. It was like her favorite restaurant in the entire world when they had half off Tuesdays. Like we'd go like every Tuesday. And now it's like, man, I don't think I want. All right. Get all the plug stuff out of the way. If you're watching live or if you've been watching on playback on YouTube, you've seen the scroll or you've ignored it, which dang you for ignoring it.

But blue by 90.com, obviously, access to our message board, premium content, game preview stuff. If you sign up for Club 90 access, you get access to all that. You can use promo code right now, M Weekly, M is in Michigan Weekly. Get your first month free if you want to give us a shot first and see what it's about. And then otherwise annual, if you do the annual out the gate, saves you a couple months free. But if you want to use the promo code, take advantage, that'd be great. We are running something right now. So, Janard Robinson and Blue by 90, Justin's going to be holding an event where he'll be signing autographs Friday.

Blue by 90 subscribers, Club 90 members, you get half off of that event. So any subscribers, if you go to the Club 90 message board, I have the link with the promo code there if you want to get tickets to that and take advantage of half off for being a Club 90 member. Tailgates, I believe there are still VIP packages available for Iowa. If I'm wrong, I apologize, but head over again, Blueby90.com. You can check out if you have a large group. I think it was Sherry earlier.

If you have a large group, VIP packages are still available. Otherwise, if you want to just stop by, obviously please do. 3.30 games are fun because there's a longer tailgate window available. If you're listening back on the podcast, I appreciate you there as well. And again, on YouTube, like, subscribe, notification bell. So you know when we go live, POSC and Cut U.S. was live last night. I believe we have a Wormly and Strack episode, Dropout.

today. I will be on the next. That's hilarious. I will be on the next OG Blue by 90 show with Justin and Joel. It'll be the three of us. I'm super excited for that. So that'll be posting. We're recording tomorrow that she posts tomorrow as well. Who is that? It looks like Steve Eiserman to me. This is a this is a shout out to Peter Venkman PhD. This is, uh, it's hard to explain. I'll tell you later. So just the eyes and the glasses. I got an Eisenman vibe. But yeah, I saw the mustache. It's not a real guy. This is a...

Oh, God. This is a, shall we say, a hybrid creature. Oh, you're going to have to film me in, but... I will fill you in. Two hours, buddy. Nice. Well, I think it was worth it. Because I looked at the clock and we were still talking about U-TEP.

And it was like 55 minutes. Yeah. So it's like, let's keep... Yeah, let me rush through the Iowa preview real quick. I can hear my son. So that's how long we took is not only did I not go pick him up. Somebody else went and picked him up and has already been back with him. You are a deadbeat.

Yeah, what a terrible dad. Get those hot wings ready. It's going to be a rough show. Like if we, I'm going to be panting and sweating and like disgusting. Like I'm not good with hot wings. I am. You are? I'm a pain seeker.

Really? Yeah. I like spicy with a kick flavor. Okay. How many points does Michigan have to win by for you to rub the sausage? I'm just kidding. You know what? No, that's not good.

That's fair. No. If Michigan, no. If Michigan beats Iowa by 42 points or more, I will rub the wings in my eyes. I think you have to go lower. Ah. I'm kidding. Okay.

No, don't. I don't want you to do this. Oh, my God. Michigan, 49 to 3. What a blowout. Yeah, imagine it. Imagine if all the fourth stringers are in. And it's like, it's 42 to nothing.

And I was on the one yard line with like, oh, God, score, please. You need that James Franklin's sad field goal more than ever. Yeah. seriously. Yeah, I would imagine. Well, it's out there now. Isn't that like incredibly dangerous? Like, that seems like a really bad idea.

Is it dangerous? I don't think so. I'll find out. People wear like gloves and shit and like, it feels like a big deal. The hottest one on the menu is mango habanero. Habanero is. Oh, yeah, that's, no, I like mango habanero.

They do. Actually, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. They do have a Reaper. Yeah. They do have a Reaper. See, don't, I won't let you put that.

I missed it because it's in the mustard. I don't like mustard, but hey. The mustard? Hey. Yeah, it's a mustard reaper. All right. Speaking of Angry Wife, let me get out of here. All right.

All right, guys. We'll be back next week, Wednesday at 2 again. Hopefully talking about a blowout win for Michigan and Iowa, eating hot wings and big bootroes rubbing hot sauce in his eyes. These bets are getting a little crazy. We can't welch again because God, what would you have to do the following week? No, we can't.

We really can't. No. All right. Appreciate you guys. Long show. There's been some of you live with us the entire time. You're unbelievable. Thank you guys.

We'll see in a week here on Michigan Weekly. Appreciate you. Go Blue.