Michigan had a bye week before Saturday’s Big Ten matchup with Wisconsin in Ann Arbor. Head coach Sherrone Moore is returning from a longer break.
Moore served a two-game suspension for his involvement in the program’s sign-stealing scandal. The No. 20 Wolverines (3-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) did just fine under associate head coach Biff Poggi, clobbering Central Michigan by 60 points and collecting a three-point road victory over Nebraska in their conference opener.
“Just appreciate him greatly for handling it the way he did,” Moore said.
The bye allowed Michigan to rest up for the Badgers (2-2, 0-1), who lost their last two games and also had last weekend off.
“I feel really good about where we are,” Moore said. “That was the number one goal this week — to get guys healthy, get guys back.”
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood hasn’t put up big passing numbers thus far, mostly because the running game has worked well. The Wolverines rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns against the Cornhuskers, including 61 yards and a score from Underwood.
Alabama transfer Justice Haynes has been the team’s breakout star, averaging 8.1 yards per carry while reaching the end zone six times.
The Wolverines will be challenged by a Badgers rushing defense that has allowed just 50 yards per game and 2.1 yards per carry.
“They’re number one in the country. So they’re stout,” Moore said. “They’re big and stout up front. They’ve got guys that have played a lot of football, and they’ve got hard edges.”
Michigan may need to rely more on Underwood’s arm. So far, the highly touted prospect has completed just 56.9 percent of his attempts, but he’s also avoided trouble (one interception).
“The quarterbacks that have the ability to beat you with their arms and their legs are something that always makes it difficult,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “And even for a younger guy that has a lot of poise, a guy that has some weapons around him, he hasn’t overdone it. That’s the thing that I would say is impressive.”
The Wolverines defense has recorded 14 sacks in four games. They’ll be chasing either Danny O’Neil, Billy Edwards Jr. or Hunter Simmons on Saturday.
O’Neil, a San Diego State transfer, has completed 70.6 percent of his passes but he’s also been picked off five times. Simmons threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass in a 27-10 loss to Maryland in Wisconsin’s last outing.
The Badgers’ traditionally powerful rushing attack hasn’t shown much pop. Their leading rusher, Dilin Jones, has gained just 154 yards. Overall, Wisconsin is averaging 3.1 yards per carry.
Fickell needs a big win to quiet his detractors. The Badgers are 15-15 during his two-plus seasons as their head coach.
“We got an opportunity to look ourselves in the face and figure out some things that we need to do a lot better — along with giving some guys an opportunity to hopefully get some of these, not to say minor injuries, but things that can heal up within a week or two and an opportunity maybe to heal up,” Fickell said. “So I think all those things combined together gave us a good opportunity to use the bye in the best way possible.”
