Preview: Michigan vs. Purdue

 

Purdue QB Ryan Browne (image via ESPN)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE
The big question this week is about RB Justice Haynes, who was seen in a walking boot earlier this week. He's one of the top few backs in the country this season. Michigan is #14 in rushing (220.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.75). If Haynes can't go, it will be Jordan Marshall (99 carries, 544 yards, 5 TD) and freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) who will likely handle most of the carries. The offensive line and tight ends are doing a fairly good job run blocking, especially considering three starters are redshirt freshmen. Purdue is #76 in rushing defense (149 yards allowed/game) and #61 in yards allowed per carry (3.95). Odom is a former defensive coordinator with a pretty solid track record, but the Boilermakers have been up and down, giving up 254 yards on the ground to Notre Dame and just 30 rushing yards to Minnesota. They're led in tackles by senior LB Mani Powell (6'2", 230) with 76 stops, sophomore LB Charles Correa (6'3", 230) with 72, and senior S Tahj Ra-El (6'2", 208) with 68. The team is #33 in tackles for loss (including 6.25 per game), led by senior DE C.J. Nunnally IV (6'3", 265) with 7.5 and Powell with 7.0. Michigan has shown that it is committed to running the ball, and they should be able to do so pretty consistently, even if Haynes has to sit.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan 31, Michigan State 20

 

Justice Haynes (image via On3)

Hail to the Victors! A win is a win, especially in a rivalry like Michigan vs. Michigan State. The better team usually wins, but I don't really get caught up in whether a win or loss is a close one when it comes to Michigan State and Ohio State. Michigan has continued bragging rights, and the streak is at four straight games. There was an absolutely blowout win in there, and this was a relatively comfortable two-score victory. Do I think Michigan is good enough to have won by more? Yes. Do I care? No.

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Michigan's 10 Longest Plays vs. Purdue

 

Tony Boles

If you're like me and you enjoy big plays, here are some great ones against the Boilermakers over the years:

1. Tony Boles 85-yard kickoff return TD (1989)
2. Rick Leach 83-yard TD pass to Jim Smith (1975)
3. Chuck Ortmann 82-yard kickoff return (1949)
4. Martavious Odoms 73-yard punt return TD (2008)
5. Dave Glinka 72-yard TD pass to Bennie McRae (1961)
6. Jim Harbaugh 65-yard TD pass to John Kolesar (1985)
7. Phil Webb 65-yard TD run (1985)
8. Rick Leach 64-yard TD pass to Jim Smith (1976)
9. Raymon Taylor 63-yard interception return TD (2012)
10. Steve Smith 62-yard TD pass to Anthony Carter (1982)

Hit the jump for some clips.

2025 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 9

 

Jayden Denegal (image via SDSU)

I haven't done one of these posts in a few weeks, so I may include some notable performances from week 7 and 8.

FORMER PLAYERS

Raheem Anderson, C (Western Michigan): Anderson is a backup lineman for Western Michigan.

Andrel Anthony, WR (Duke): Anthony had 2 catches for 16 yards in a loss to Georgia Tech last week. This past weekend was a bye for the Blue Devils.

Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley has not recorded any stats in the past two weeks, including a 17-10 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Kechaun Bennett, DE (UCLA): Bennett has 4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss over the past two games against Maryland (a 20-17 win) and Indiana (a 56-3 loss).

Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds is a backup offensive tackle for Arizona.

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Preview: Michigan vs. Michigan State

 

Aidan Chiles (image via On3)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #22 in rushing offense (212.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.78). The team took a little bit of a hit over the past six quarters without star running back Justice Haynes (95 carries, 705 yards, 7 TD), who missed last week's game after getting hurt against USC. Haynes could possibly return, but the running back position is still in solid hands with Jordan Marshall (25 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD last week). It's just not very deep since the next two guys are true freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) and walk-on Bryson Kudzdal (6 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD). Starting LT Evan Link will also be out after suffering a leg injury last week, so Michigan will be starting three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line: LT Blake Frazier, RG Jake Guarnera, and RT Andrew Sprague. Michigan State is #52 in rush defense (131.3 yards allowed/game) and #81 in yards allowed per carry (4.24). Against other Big Ten teams, they're giving up over 39 points per game, 5.1 yards/carry, and 181 rushing yards/game. Junior LB Jordan Hall (6'3", 238) leads the team with 51 tackles, followed by senior LB Wayne Matthews III (6'2", 230), a former Old Dominion Monarch with 41 stops. Former Michigan DT commit Alex VanSumeren (6'3", 295) ranks third on the team with 29 tackles. The only Big Ten team the Spartans have "stopped" on the ground is Nebraska (31 attempts, 67 yards, 3 TD), but that game included 5 sacks for 35 yards, so the true rushing numbers were more like 26 carries for 102 yards. In other words, Michigan should be able to run the ball pretty consistently even if Haynes is out.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan 24, Washington 7

 

Zack Marshall (image via MGoBlue)

NOTE: Again, I apologize for the inconsistent posting schedule lately. Too many things going on right now. I've started preview posts the past two weeks and just haven't been able to finish.

Bryce Underwood is a dude. The talent of Bryce Underwood is off the charts. Michigan has never seen anything like him on their roster. The closest is Drew Henson or Devin Gardner, but Underwood is a twitchier athlete than Henson and a better thrower than Gardner. Underwood completed 21/27 passes for 230 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, and he looked to be in control the entire game. There were a few drops, but I don't love taking away the drops and making pronouncements about what his completion percentage should be, because then you're not comparing apples to apples when it comes to other quarterbacks or general expectations. It's sufficient enough to describe his accuracy by saying he completed 21/27 passes.

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Michigan 24, Wisconsin 10

 

Justice Haynes (image via Alejandro Zuniga/X)

We have a new #1. There was talk in the off-season about Michigan wanting to add size at the receiver position, and Donovan McCulley was the guy who came in to add that element. The 6'5", 215 lb. former quarterback has had some glitches in his understanding of what Bryce Underwood was thinking or where the routes should go, and there was at least one more on Saturday. But McCulley certainly looked the part of a #1 receiver on Saturday, making amazing leaping catches and running after the catch. He made 6 catches for 112 yards and 1 touchdown, including an amazing contortion on the left sideline to get one foot down for a 33-yard gain. His touchdown catch was an RPO where he bounced off a couple tacklers and then beat defenders to the pylon for a 29-yard score. He's not going to amaze anyone with his speed, but when off-season comparisons to Nico Collins came in, most people rolled their eyes. I think now he's putting on display where those comparisons came from. He registered the first 100+ yard game for a Michigan wide receiver since Roman Wilson against Purdue on November 4, 2023.

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Visitors: Michigan vs. Wisconsin

 

Savion Hiter

2026

Nick Abrams - LB - Owings Mills (MD) McDonogh: Abrams is a 6'2", 220 lb. prospect who committed to Georgia on July 16. He's a 4-star, the #20 linebacker, and #291 overall. Alabama, Michigan, and Oregon all got official visits back in June.

Jonathan Brown - RB - Columbus (OH) St. Frances de Sales: Brown is committed to Michigan.

Kaden Catchings - LB - Flowood (MS) Hartfield Academy: Catchings is a 6'2", 220-pounder who has been committed to Liberty since June 16. He's a 3-star, the #117 linebacker, and #1427 overall. Michigan has not had any luck recruiting Mississippi. Interestingly, Michigan has two former linebackers now playing for Liberty in Deuce Spurlock and Micah Pollard.

Hit the jump for more.