Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia looks ahead to Michigan football’s final nonconference game against Central Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Fast facts
Matchup: No. 22 Michigan (1-1) vs. Central Michigan (1-1)
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Kickoff: Noon Saturday, Sept. 13; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: Big Ten Network; WCSX-FM (94.7).
Line: Wolverines by 27½.
MORE MICHIGAN: Could Bryce Underwood in run game help spark Michigan football offense?
Michigan football vs. Central Michigan availability report
Michigan – Out: QB Davis Warren (knee), OT Andrew Babalola (knee). Probable: DB Rod Moore (knee), DB Shamari Earls (undisclosed), DB Caleb Anderson (undisclosed). Questionable: TE Marlin Klein (right foot/ankle), DB Zeke Berry (lower body), RB John Volker (undisclosed), LB Jaydon Hood (undisclosed), RB Bryson Kuzdzal (undisclosed), RB Donovan Johnson (undisclosed), edge Devon Baxter, DT Ike Iwunnah (undisclosed), WR C.J. Charleston (undisclosed). Doubtful: OL Gio-EL Hadi (left ankle/foot)
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Central Michigan – Missed Week 2: TE Rory Callahan, OL John Iannuzzi.
Scouting report
When Michigan has the ball: The Wolverines look to get back on track with their attack after putting up just 13 points on the road at OU. Seven of them came courtesy of an explosive 75-yard Justice Haynes run, while three came after Oklahoma muffed a punt and U-M began in OU territory. Only once on the night did U-M have a drive of more than one play that crossed midfield and resulted in points. Perhaps, it’s time to unleash quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines got him in a great rhythm Week 1, even if they somewhat kept the training wheels on. In Week 2, the Wolverines were even more conservative on the road − prioritizing ball control and protection over explosive plays. That was the strategy but in the words of offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey “obviously we didn’t do it good enough.” There’s a chance U-M could let Underwood use his legs a bit more to generate offense − that could create some holes for running backs which have been far too boom or bust. If there’s a time to figure out where your bread is buttered as a unit, this is the week.
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When Central Michigan has the ball: The Chippewas have established this year that they want to run the ball, even if it’s a struggle. CMU was effective in its opener against San Jose State, amassing 236 yards on the ground. That was a different story entirely last week, when the team ran 41 times for 40 yards against Pittsburgh. It’s likely that’s what it will look like against U-M, which has been a stout run defense through two weeks, holding New Mexico to just 50 yards on 28 carries and Oklahoma running backs to 66 yards on 21 carries: a combined 116 yards on 49 attempts. Despite attempting the 15th most runs in the country, CMU’s ranks just 115th in the nation at 2.9 yards per attempt. Their passing attack, while not often used, has been decent. More on that below.
Know the foe
Sep 14, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas quarterback Joe Labas (2) passes the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Three quarterback rotation: Central Michigan has curiously rotated three quarterbacks throughout its first two games, with Joe Labas, Jadyn Glasser and Angel H Flores. While Labas, an Iowa transfer, is the “starter,” all three will likely play a role. Combined, they’ve been quite efficient, completing 28 of 40 passes (70.0%) for 292 yards and one touchdown. That’s 7.3 yards per pass attempt. (For perspective, U-M is averaging 7.1 yards per pass with Underwood). The Wolverines are well aware of the mixing-and-matching they will face. “When you watch the tape, there is no rhyme or reason why they would do it,” said U-M linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. “(It’s not like) one is, you know, the thrower, one is the runner, one is the short yardage guy. I think they’re all equally, you know, as good running the ball and throwing the ball. … they all operate the offense at a high level.”
Army West Point’s offensive line coach Matt Drinkall during practice on March 1, 2024.
Army roots: If there’s any question about why Central is putting an emphasis on running the ball, look no further than its new head coach, Matt Drinkall. He spent the past six years in West Point as the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator under Jeff Monken at Army. In his final season with the Black Knights, they went 12-2, won an American Athletic Conference championship in their first year in the league. Army led the nation in rushing (314.4 yards per game) and ranked No. 4 nationally in third-down conversion percentage (50.3), in large part because of short down-and-distance propositions. Army won the Joe Moore Award in 2024 (something U-M is quite familiar with).
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Decent defense: CMU was a 14-point underdog at San Jose State in Week 1, yet held the Spartans to an impressive 14 points in a road win. It’s due in large part to cohesion, as the Chippewas returned eight starters from that side of the ball from their 2024 team. It starts with the captain in the middle, linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder who had an interception against the Panthers last week. Redshirt senior Michael Heldman already has a forced fumble this season and he came in with experience, now with 31 starts, 18½ tackles for loss and 9½ sacks for his career. The Chippewas have been susceptible, however, to giving up the big play: they’ve allowed nine plays of 30 yards or more, which is 133rd in the nation (out of 136 teams).
Tony Garcia’s two cents
Get right spot: The Wolverines have to travel to Nebraska (which will likely be 3-0) next week for their second tricky road game in four contests. In case last week wasn’t evidence enough, this team has plenty to clean up before it leaves home again. On offense, it’s finding a rhythm with the passing game and it would certainly help if Klein was available as a security blank. But it’s also a consistent rushing attack − the team really needs Jordan Marshall to get going, as the “1B” back has run 20 times for just 57 yards. On defense, it’s about tackling in space, something U-M struggled with (which has not been a common problem in recent years) at OU. On special teams, it’s putting a whole game together. The Wolverines fumbled a kick and muffed a punt in the opener, then strangely Dominic Zvada missed a chip shot in Week 2. It’s incumbent on J.B. Brown’s unit to put an entire game together. This is the spot to find out what the team’s strengths are.
Biff and the boys: Michigan will be without Sherrone Moore for this game and the next as he’s serving a program-imposed two game ban in relation to the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal. Biff Poggi has taken over as interim coach. He has intimate knowledge of U-M’s operations and is essentially Moore’s right-hand man, much like he was for his predecessor, Jim Harbaugh. The NCAA’s ruling came down this summer and fined U-M millions of dollars, sanctioned it with recruiting penalties, handed out show-causes to four staffers and added an additional game suspension to Moore’s tally (opening week of 2026). Somewhat ironically, the man who is most responsible for the scandal − Connor Stalions − also has CMU in hot water as he was allegedly seen disguised on the Chippewas’ sideline in their opener in 2023 against Michigan State. A CMU spokesman told the Free Press earlier this summer that the program is in the process of reaching a negotiated resolution with the NCAA.
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Tony Garcia’s prediction
For the first time in his career, Underwood has multiple touchdowns in a game. Michigan hits some big plays in the passing attack, while it is also able to improve its rushing output, surpassing 200 yards on the ground. Both McCulley and Marshall score their first touchdowns of the season while Haynes continues his dynamic start to the year. Shouldn’t be much drama to see here. The pick: U-M 38, Central Michigan 10.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football prediction vs Central Michigan
