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Postgame reactions: Michigan 'exposed and outcoached' at USC

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome10/12/25anthonytbroome
NCAA Football: Michigan at Southern California
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) is pressured by Michigan Wolverines defensive end Cameron Brandt (9) in the second half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Michigan Wolverines fell to 4-2 on the year in a 31-13 loss at USC on Saturday, their first loss in Big Ten play this season. U-M entered the game as a slight underdog, but was blown out and embarrassed in its trip out to California.

TheWolverine.com’s Anthony Broome and former Michigan defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen discussed the loss shortly after it went final in another effort that raised questions about the progress being made within the football program under Sherrone Moore.

 ”Exposed and outcoached,” Van Bergen said on the show. “But Lincoln Riley, off a bye week on national television, went Tom and Jerry mode on Wink Martindale and the Michigan Defense and made the defense look ineffective. They did it with balance. They did it with some run game. They did it with screens at the perfect time. They executed almost at will, which I didn’t think was something that was going to happen tonight. The offense that just chokes on the little bit of gas that you see it get now and again.

“We lost Justice Haynes in the first half, which was the only real positive that we may have had going. here were some flashes at the receiving position today… So it’s a humbling game that I think lets you know where you stand. You are not a top-tier Big Ten team at the beginning of October, we’ve seen glimpses of a team that I think can compete with the top tier. Tonight was not that, not that team.

“And that’s not the standard on offense, defense, from the coaching. So where do we go from here? There’s a lot of football left to be played. We’re six weeks in. There shouldn’t be anything left in the playbook. We should be wheeling and dealing full strength. Sherrone Moore, Wink Martindale, Chip Lindsay… what can they do to make this better from here on out?”

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