WHeels are off the bus: Minnesota vs michigan game recap

Michigan is Spiralling: The Finishing Problem Bites Again

The game relied on one question: could Michigan put the pieces together and put a team away on the road? On Saturday in Minneapolis, the answer was no, and it cost the Wolverines a streak that had stood since 1977.

Per usual, the Wolverines competed. A close matchup classified by good defense and inconsistent QB play from Bryce Underwood could be used to describe almost all of Michigan's games to start the year, but none fit better than this one. Quite simply, this was an ugly performance from the Wolverines.

Minnesota (4-1) beat Michigan (3-2) 20-14 in the 100th game for the Little Brown Jug. Gophers fans stormed the field at Huntington Bank Stadium. It was Minnesota's first home win in the series in nearly 50 years.

How It Slipped Away

The first half went well for Michigan. A 2 yard TD run from Minnesota RB Darius Taylor started the scoring before CB Smith Snowden's interception set up a Jordan Marshall touchdown run to start the scoring for the Wolverines. And then Nathaniel Staehling jumped a route and returned his pick 79 yards for a score, making the score at a 14-7 Michigan lead at the break.

Then the game turned. Michigan turned the ball over on three straight possessions: a muffed punt by Andrew Marsh, then two Bryce Underwood interceptions. The Wolverines held the ball for just 47 seconds in the third quarter. The defense limited the damage to two short field goals to make the score 14-13 Wolverines, but the offense never answered.

Michigan was held scoreless in the second half and finished with fewer than 200 yards total in an abysmal performance. Darius Taylor's 3-yard touchdown catch from Drake Lindsey put Minnesota ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

Michigan would get the ball back late, but squander it after four straight Bryce Underwood incompletions.

What It Tells Us

Minnesota played the Iowa script. The Gophers didn't beat themselves. They controlled possession in the second half and ran the clock, and Lindsey was efficient without being explosive (17 of 25 for 136 yards).

While Minnesota may not be an elite big ten contender, the ability of the Gophers offense to avoid turnovers makes them a tough matchup for just about anyone.

Michigan's record has become honest again.

After a game the Wolverines should have won against Iowa, this one was a game it led at halftime and gave away. Michigan had this game in their hands and squandered it away with a terrible second half performance.

The defense is not the problem.

Michigan forced turnovers, held Minnesota to two third-down conversions in nine second-half attempts, and got a tipped punt from Lugard Edokpayi Jr. The offense and ball security are the issues for the Wolverines, who cannot rely on their defense against big ten offenses that are better than Minnesota's.

What's Next

Michigan is 0-2 in the Big Ten and gets a bye at the right time. The Wolverines return to Michigan Stadium on Oct. 17 to face Penn State, with plenty to clean up before then. The ingredients are still there, but they have to turn into complete, mistake-free football soon. If Bryce Underwood cannot improve soon, expect QB2 and freshman Tommy Carr to take over. 3-2 is not the Michigan standard and everybody on that team should have their job in serious danger if improvements do not come soon.

For the Gophers, they now know the recipe to success as they prepare for a road trip to Purdue. If Minnesota can escape West Lafayette 5-1, watch out for this team as a dark horse CFP contender with a relatively favorable big ten schedule.