What we learned as Michigan held on to the Little Brown Jug (2025)

Last week’s upset of USC looked like the start of something promising for the Michigan Wolverines. Even with clear limitations at quarterback, the blueprint was set for overpowering lesser teams and winning with physicality on both sides of the ball. On paper, the Minnesota Golden Gophers looked like the perfect test subject for this assumption, and indeed that is how the game began. Unfortunately, the contest ended much more stressfully.

Even with the quarterback change, after five weeks I think we know exactly who this team is. Sure, missing Will Johnson and Josaiah Stewart (and Colston Loveland last week) might make things look slightly worse, but five games is enough to know where this team stands. No surprises here, but a few clarities to keep in mind as Michigan heads into Game Six next weekend.

Fading fast

The Minnesota Twins had an absolute meltdown to close out the MLB season and miss the playoffs, benefiting the Detroit Tigers. On Saturday, it was the team from Michigan trying to give a gift to the team from Minnesota though, as a 21-0 lead ended with a 24-7 scoring run by the visitors, including a lopsided 21-3 mark in the fourth quarter. Against USC it was not too different, as the Trojans erased the Wolverines’ early 14-0 lead to jump ahead before the last-minute winner.

Michigan is usually the team that grinds down its opponents over the course of a game, but the very thing that it typically uses to its advantage is now its weakness. Defenses are ready to bottle up the run game knowing there is no passing threat and the Wolverines lack depth on their own defense, allowing the other team to excel on second-half drives. Without the ability to strike quick when needing to come back, this trend is going to cost Michigan sooner or later. Not being able to protect leads when the ostensible strength of this team is running the ball and elite defense is a terrible sign; the Wolverines escaped against USC and Minnesota, but the next time they might not be so lucky.

No bullseyes

One of the biggest retailers in the country resides in Minneapolis, but Michigan was not really on Target this weekend. Alex Orji is completing just 55.6 percent of his passes this season, and the misses are bad. Everyone remembers the turfed rollout against Fresno State, but his interception against the Gophers is exactly what everyone feared, where inaccuracy does not only lead to missed opportunities but potential catastrophes.

Indeed, that missed connection with Colston Loveland was the game’s clear turning point, as Minnesota scored touchdowns on each of its following three drives. Orji is averaging just 6.65 yards per completion (let alone YPA) and offers no threat downfield. If this is accompanied by bad turnovers as well, it just really is difficult to see how Michigan beats any high-quality opponents. Holding out hope for any sort of productive passing game should just about be ruled out at this point.

Un-attractions

Millions of visitors flock to Minnesota’s Mall of America annually, with many having no interest in actually shopping and instead heading towards options like roller coasters or the aquarium. However, all of this flash cannot take away from the fact that this is a mall, just like how the Michigan coaching staff’s initial facade is quickly fading as well. Too many times this season the play calling and schemes on both sides of the ball have been doing the Wolverines no favors, and that comes down to coaching.

Offensively, it is not clear at all what Kirk Campbell is trying to do. Not even rehashing the aforementioned second-half collapses, Campbell is not tailoring his offense to Orji’s strength and even cannot figure out how to use his two talented running backs well. Yes, he is dealing with a limited deck — especially across the line and amongst the wide receivers — but the young offensive coordinator has been uncreative and too predictable all season.

Meanwhile, everyone’s fears on Wink Martindale have just about been confirmed. Over-blitzing is part of the problem, but even when the defense is not sending more than four rushers, the back seven looks out of place and unprepared. There are plenty of new faces across the defense and the past two defensive coordinators set a ridiculously high bar, but Martindale is costing the team with how his is deploying his strategies. That is inexcusable given the star power on the defensive line.

What we learned as Michigan held on to the Little Brown Jug (2025)
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