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Michigan football podcast: The Balas and Skene Show, post-USC

Chris Balasby: Chris Balas10/14/25Balas_Wolverine
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) is pressured in the pocket in the second half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) is pressured in the pocket in the second half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Michigan fell at USC, 31-13, in a game the Trojans controlled from start to finish. The Wolverines have a lot of work to do, especially up front, to get back on track, facing a tough challenge from a talented Washington team this weekend in Ann Arbor.

Head coach Sherrone Moore understands the offensive line still needs work after another substandard showing.

“I think the biggest thing is continue to look at what you’re doing, how you’re doing it,” he said Monday. “I thought we did a good job of putting people in position, moving guys around. But we’ve got to continue to do that, continue to challenge the O-line, continue to challenge everybody in the rooms.

“It’s not just one position, right? It’s everybody. So, we’ll all do it together and fix it.”

As for the Michigan offense overall …

“I think, obviously, you’ve seen some playmakers evolve. I think you’ve seen some guys really step up that you hadn’t seen at the beginning of the year,” he said. “[Michigan receiver] Donaven McCulley has really stepped up.

“Andrew Marsh obviously is a true freshman, making plays, and we’ve seen what Justice Haynes can do. So I think just continue to put guys in position to make plays and then involving the tight ends like we’re going to, to keep everybody off balance and continue to make the offense better.”

But they struggled to only 13 points in a weak showing. It wasn’t just the offense, either. The Michigan defense gave up 225 yards rushing, many to a third-string back, and got gouged by the Trojans’ screen game. Some openly wondered if they were too aggressive with the blitz game, but Moore wasn’t biting.

“You could say that, but then you look at the week before, we’re pretty stout,” he continued. “And I think when you go back to games like Alabama, it was the same pressure percentage that we had against them against the quarterback that’s pretty dangerous.

“So, it’s really all about doing your job, right angles, and then the good mesh of both. I don’t think that was really the case. I think we’ve just got to execute.”

Chris Balas and former Michigan offensive lineman Doug Skene break it down here …