Skip to main content
Michigan

Report Card: Grading Michigan football in a 31-13 loss at USC

Chris Balasby: Chris Balas10/12/25Balas_Wolverine
Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore during a 24-10 win over Wisconsin in 2025. (Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)
Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore during a 24-10 win over Wisconsin in 2025. (Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan laid an egg in Los Angeles, falling 31-13 to a USC team that dominated most of the game. The Wolverines fell to 4-2 with a huge game vs. Washington coming up next weekend.

We grade the Wolverines in all facets following the loss …

Michigan rushing offense: C+

The numbers were fine — 137 gross yards and a 4.9 per-carry average — there just wasn’t enough offense from it. The Wolverines didn’t have the ball a lot given how much USC was controlling the ball with its offense, but Justice Haynes ran pretty well before he got hurt and Jordan Marshall racked up a workmanlike 68 yards on 14 carries. We expected more explosives against this USC defense, and we still want more opportunities for quarterback Bryce Underwood.

Passing offense: C-

There were a few good plays, but two picks (one by Underwood, one by Jadyn Davis) and leaky pass protection bring the grade down. The biggest positive — a 138-yard game from frosh receiver Andrew Marsh. What happened to the tight ends, though? We want to see more from them.

Michigan rushing defense: F

The one stat that stood out most from Saturday night’s game — USC’s 224 yards rushing. Backup King Miller ran for 158, and with a 49-yard run on third-and-26 and several other big ones (three rushes of 29 or more for the Trojans), the Michigan run defense failed. The fits were bad, the tackling worse. In short, it was disastrous.

Passing defense: D-

The screen game was the biggest issue Saturday, dicing the Michigan defense repeatedly. There were downfield shots too, however, and six total passing plays of 15 yards or more (totaling 129 yards). The Wolverines didn’t notch a sack and USC quarterback Jayden Maiava picked the U-M defense apart, completing 25 of 32 passes for 265 yards and 2 scores.

Michigan special teams: C

Punter Hudson Hollenbeck is still hit or miss. His 29-yard shorty gave USC great field position for one drive, and he averaged 36.5 yards per kick. The Wolverines still get nothing in the return game. Coverage was fine.