Sherrone Moore's Michigan closed last season on a high note, earning consecutive wins over Ohio State and Alabama. Still, the Wolverines endured inconsistent play in their first year under head coach Moore.
On his podcast, Colin Cowherd questioned whether Michigan’s long-term outlook is secure. He argued that cultural priorities at the university could hold back the football program compared with its Big Ten rivals.
“One of the advantages the SEC has, like, culturally, they really don’t care about the swim team,” Cowherd said. “There are certain universities — the West Coast really cares about it. There’s some ACC schools that do. Michigan has always looked at Ohio State as like, well, ‘Academically, they’re our junior college. We wouldn’t do what they would do.’”
Cowherd added that the new Big Ten additions may not trouble Ohio State but could pose serious problems for the Wolverines.
“My take is Oregon just entered the conference. Oregon has no effect on Ohio State, neither does USC or Washington. But I think Oregon, Washington and USC can beat Michigan regularly. I don’t think they can beat Ohio State regularly.”
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Last year, Michigan went 5-4 in conference play, dropping games to Washington and Oregon. The team edged USC, but only by three points. Quarterback play was its biggest liability, as the Wolverines ranked fifth worst nationally in passing yards per game.
This fall, freshman Bryce Underwood has sparked new optimism, yet Cowherd doubts even his talent can change Michigan’s trajectory.
“When the Pac-12 came to the Big Ten, there was this sense that, ‘Oh, those West Coast schools. It’s big-boy football,’” Cowherd said. “Michigan in five years, we’re going to look up and go, they’re the school in trouble. USC is humming. Oregon’s going to hum. Washington whenever they get the right coach is a top-10 program.”
Michigan, he warned, may fall behind as Ohio State surges.
“Right now, they feel like Georgia four years ago,” Cowherd said.
The Wolverines face Nebraska on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS, aiming to prove their mettle one week at a time.
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