10 Things We Learned as Michigan Welcomed USC to the Big Ten

10. USC’s Defense Has Some Dudes

Linebacker Eric Gentry was flying all over the field. All 6’6” of him! Gentry recorded a game-high 12 tackles, including three TFLs and one sack to go with three quarterback hurries and what was the biggest play of the game at the moment (until Mulling’s long run), as his forced fumble set up USC’s go-ahead touchdown. He was SoCal’s second-highest graded player, behind cornerback Jaylin Smith, who had seven tackles (TFL). Interior defensive linemen Gavin Meyer, Bear Alexander, Kobe Pepe, and Nate Clifton were solid. It’s not their fault there was shaky tackling behind them in the open field. This group doesn’t need to be great. Average could get them to ten wins.

This Week: USC -15.5 vs. Wisconsin

2. USC Got Their Welcome to the Big Ten Moment

Like their crosstown rivals, UCLA, the Trojans lost their Big Ten opener. To be fair, USC was on the road against the defending national champs, who had their backs against the wall and were desperate for a win. The question many had about this Trojans team, especially in the year they joined the Big Ten, was how they would hold up in the trenches. If this was their first test, the Men of Troy failed. The Wolverines outgained them by nearly 200 yards (290 to 96) and combined for eight tackles for loss. Physicality was the difference.

USC CFB Playoffs Betting Odds +230

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3. Michigan Has an Identity

After seeing Davis Warren throw his third interception against Arkansas State (sixth of the season), Sherrone Moore switched to Alex Orji. They ran the ball 46 times (290 yards!)–smash and gash—compared to 12 passes (32 yards!). That’s 79 percent of the time. The big question everyone has is whether the Wolverines can continue to win this way. Why not? There are only two teams better than the Trojans left on the schedule, and let’s not forget Michigan went into Happy Valley last year and beat an excellent Penn State team without throwing a pass in the second half.

Alex Orji Heisman Betting Odds +30000

4. Haters (Think They) Know Who Lincoln Riley Is

The haters said Lincoln Riley couldn’t win on the road and could not compete with the physicality the best of the Big Ten had to offer. And they were correct—honestly great call from the haters. Part of the reason we were on Michigan last week was Riley’s 2-7 record against the spread as a road favorite (now 2-8). Yes, at times, Riley coached and play-called scared on Saturday. But I’m not ready to join the chorus of haters. The headman made some business decisions to be conservative and get the ball out of his quarterback’s hands quickly. They almost pulled off a 14-point comeback and preserved Miller Moss enough to fight (on) another day against a defense not as dominant as Michigan’s. It takes time to build an offensive line and ensure the defense is headed in the right direction. More on both later.

USC Big Ten Championship Betting Odds +1200

5. Michigan’s Defensive Line is THEM!

The defensive line dominated the Trojans upfront. Three-hundred-pounders Mason Graham (320 pounds) and Kenneth Grant (339 pounds) each recorded their first sack of the season against USC. Not many NFL teams have a duo of large athletic humans to rival Michigan’s tandem. Graham was unblockable for most of the game. Backup Rayshaun Benny (svelte 296 pounds) was named to the PFF all-conference Week 4 team, while EDGE Josaiah Stewart might have been the best player on the field. Steward posted two sacks, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, three QB hits, three QB hurries, and a 31.4 percent pass-rush win rate (per PFF).

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6. USC’s Offense Must Win Despite Their Offensive Line

They could not block the Michigan front four. Yes, that’s one of, if not the best, defensive lines in the country, but that doesn’t excuse how woeful the Trojans were. The eye test was pretty bad, and looking at the PFF grades confirmed what we saw. USC scored an abysmal 8.0 in pass protection and 33.3 in run blocking. For comparison’s sake, the next lowest grade the Trojans have received in any other category this season was 53. Left tackle Elijah Paige was benched and his replacement Mason Murphy (flipped from right tackle) wasn’t much better. This team has been getting playoff buzz…can they overcome their O-line to get there?

USC National Championship Betting Odds +5000

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7. Michigan’s Cornerback Room Might Be Elite

We all knew about Will Johnson, who registered the game’s biggest play when he jumped a pass and took it 42 yards to the house for his second pick-six in four games. Johnson might be the top corner in college football and is a potential top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Redshirt freshman Jyaire Hill is growing into his starting role and joined Michigan defenders Johnson, Stewart, and Benny on PFF’s all-conference team. The Wolverines fought hard to get Hill out of Illinois, and he showed why on Saturday. He tied Graham with a team-high six tackles, including a TFL, and had two pass breakups. Nickelback and fellow first-year starter Zeke Berry was also active, with a pass breakup and 1.5 TFLs among his five stops.

Michigan National Championship Betting Odds +12000

8. Despite the Loss, There Were Some Positives for USC

There were a couple of costly missed tackles, too many explosive runs of 40-plus yards, and an inexcusable 10-play, 89-yard drive in 3:24 in which the Wolverines ran for 79 yards on eight carries. They had to make Alex Orji beat them through the air on the game-deciding drive and didn’t. All of that is true. But had last season’s defense made the trip to Arbor, Michigan might have run for 500 yards, and that’s not an exaggeration. Offensively, despite the Wolverines breathing down his neck, Miller Moss didn’t look shook. For the most part, he hung in the pocket, took the hits, and responded with three second-half touchdown passes on the road against a big-time defense.

Miller Moss Heisman Betting Odds +2200

9. Michigan Needs Better Safety Play

All-Big Ten performer Rod Moore was injured in the preseason, and rising junior Keon Sabb transferred to Alabama, where he’s starting. Super senior Quinten Johnson has been reliable, but multi-year starter Makari Paige had a bad game on Saturday. Paige whiffed on a sack when he came unblocked on a blitz, leading to a 42-yard completion and a USC field goal. The Trojans had 65 of their 96 rushing yards on one play thanks to another Paige missed tackle in the open field. He was also late with help in deep zone coverage on USC’s go-ahead TD midway through the fourth quarter. Paige needs to play better, or we need to see some backups get a chance. Brandyn Hillman has flashed and may need to see more of the field.

This Week: Michigan -9.5 vs. Minnesota

10. USC’s Defense Has Some Dudes

Linebacker Eric Gentry was flying all over the field. All 6’6” of him! Gentry recorded a game-high 12 tackles, including three TFLs and one sack to go with three quarterback hurries and what was the biggest play of the game at the moment (until Mulling’s long run), as his forced fumble set up USC’s go-ahead touchdown. He was SoCal’s second-highest graded player, behind cornerback Jaylin Smith, who had seven tackles (TFL). Interior defensive linemen Gavin Meyer, Bear Alexander, Kobe Pepe, and Nate Clifton were solid. It’s not their fault there was shaky tackling behind them in the open field. This group doesn’t need to be great. Average could get them to ten wins.

This Week: USC -15.5 vs. Wisconsin