Report Card: Grading Michigan football in a 31-20 win at MSU

Michigan pulled away from a bad Michigan State team in the second half for a 31-20 win, getting big games from the running backs and some outstanding defense from linebacker Jimmy Rolder. We grade the Wolverines in all facets …

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Michigan rushing offense: A

There will never be a game in which 276 yards isn’t good enough, including this one. The running backs stepped up in the second half and the Wolverines averaged 5.8 yards per run when adjusted for sack yardage. Junior Justice Haynes’ three biggest runs — 20 and 28 yards on the first drive of the second half that led to a touchdown and a two-score lead, and a 14-yard touchdown that made it 24-7 and all but assured a win — were difference makers. 

Two backs over 100 yards in this game almost assures a win. It’s science. 

Passing offense: D

We’re probably being generous here given how bad Michigan State’s pass defense was coming into this game. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood completed only 8 of 17 passes for 86 yards for a quarterback rating of 89.6. Frosh receiver Andrew Marsh was a bright spot, hauling in three passes for 54 yards, but that’s the extent of the positive. 

There were times it seemed Underwood bailed on the pocket too early — other times, it appeared the pass protection was leaky, a concern given how poor MSU is with its pass rush. They have three games in which to improve before Ohio State comes to town. A one-dimensional offense isn’t going to beat this OSU team. 

Michigan rushing defense: C+

Michigan State hasn’t run the ball on just about anyone this year, but back Makhi Frazier rushed for 109 yards on 14 carries, including a 49-yarder to set up a score through two missed tackles. He also notched a 25-yarder in the fourth quarter. 

The Wolverines did do a good job containing Aidan Chiles, however, the second straight week they kept a mobile quarterback in check. He was credited for 15 carries, but only two of them went for over two yards with a long of eight on a scramble. 

Passing defense: A-

Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh caught six passes for 75 yards, but U-M corner Jyaire Hill did a nice job on him most of the game. He had three receptions of 16 yards or more, but the Spartans managed only 190 yards through the air, and 60 came in garbage time from backup Alessio Milivojevic. 

Chiles was pressured consistently and sacked four times by the Michigan defense. 

Michigan special teams: C

Punter Hudson Hollenbeck averaged 48 yards per punt and had one beauty inside the five that pinned the Spartans deep. He had a short one late, but overall, not so bad. And kicker Dominic Zvada made his only field goal, a short one from 21 yards to open the scoring. 

The Wolverines still haven’t figured out punt return. It remains an adventure with Semaj Morgan — he fair caught one inside the five and got run into again (third time this year?) on another. Interim coach Biff Poggi called it a “bad look” against CMU, and it’s still a bad look.