Michigan enters its Week 9 trip to Rutgers needing a response after one of the more frustrating losses of the season. The Wolverines fell 13-6 in overtime to Indiana on October 24 despite holding the Hoosiers to 212 total yards and just 81 passing yards while not allowing a touchdown in regulation. The defense delivered the kind of performance Michigan fans have come to expect, yet the offense managed only two field goals and failed to reach the end zone. Freshman quarterback Tommy Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 167 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in his first career start.
That result left Michigan at 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten. The schedule does not get easier after this week, with Michigan State, a road trip to Oregon, and the annual showdown with Ohio State still ahead. Against that backdrop, Saturday’s game at SHI Stadium (12:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network) against Rutgers offers a clear opportunity to regain traction. The Scarlet Knights are 2-5 and 1-3 in conference play. Their defense ranks among the least productive units in the country against the run, and their offense will be without starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan while star wide receiver KJ Duff is listed as doubtful. Michigan is favored by roughly two touchdowns, but the recent offensive struggles mean the Wolverines still have specific matchups they must control if they want to turn a favorable situation into a comfortable win and rebuild momentum.
Michigan’s Running Game Against Rutgers’ Rush Defense
The most straightforward path for Michigan’s offense runs through the ground. Rutgers ranks near the bottom of the FBS in rush defense, allowing more than 200 rushing yards per game and more than six yards per carry. Opponents have averaged around 35 rushing attempts against the Scarlet Knights this season. Michigan has struggled to establish consistent efficiency on the ground at times, ranking outside the top 100 in several advanced rushing metrics, but the personnel is in place to exploit a soft front. Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter give the Wolverines two capable backs who can handle volume between the tackles and on the edges.
Marshall has been the more consistent option through the first half of the season, while Hiter has shown the burst to break longer gains when lanes open. Against a Rutgers defense that has been gashed by physical run games, Michigan’s offensive line should be able to create favorable angles, especially if the staff commits to a balanced but run-heavy approach early. Establishing the run would also ease pressure on Carr in his second consecutive start. When Michigan has been able to move the chains on the ground in previous games, the play-action opportunities have looked cleaner and the red-zone execution has improved. A 150-plus yard day from the Marshall-Hiter tandem would not only help control the clock but also create the kind of sustained drives the offense has lacked against better defenses. If Michigan wins this matchup convincingly, the rest of the game becomes far more manageable.
Tommy Carr’s Decision-Making Against a Depleted Rutgers Secondary
Carr’s performance against Indiana was uneven but not without encouraging flashes. He showed poise when escaping pressure and connected on several timely throws to receivers in the second half. The challenge this week is different. Rutgers will be without Lonergan and is doubtful to have Duff, its leading receiver with 45 catches for 774 yards and nine touchdowns. That absence thins an offense that has already struggled with consistency and turnovers. On the other side, Michigan’s defense ranks among the best in the country in total yards allowed and has limited opponents to 15.7 points per game. Carr does not need to be spectacular; he needs to be efficient and protective of the ball.
The matchup that matters most for Carr is his ability to take what the Rutgers defense gives him without forcing throws into coverage. Rutgers has dealt with injuries in the secondary throughout the season, and the absence of its top playmaker should limit the big-play threats Michigan’s secondary must account for. Carr completed passes at a solid rate against Indiana, but the lack of touchdowns and the interception highlighted the need for better execution in the red zone and on third down. Against a defense that ranks poorly overall, Michigan should be able to manufacture easier completions and create opportunities for receivers such as JJ Buchanan and the tight ends. If Carr can post a clean stat line with a couple of scoring drives and no turnovers, it would represent meaningful progress in his second start and give the offense the confidence it has been missing. Michigan fans have seen young quarterbacks grow into the role under pressure; a controlled, mistake-free outing on the road would be a concrete step in that direction.
Michigan’s Front Seven Against Rutgers’ Remaining Offensive Weapons
Even without Lonergan and with Duff doubtful, Rutgers still has some ability to move the ball, particularly on the ground with running back Antwan Raymond. Raymond has been one of the more productive rushers in the Big Ten, averaging more than 90 yards per game and posting multiple 100-yard efforts, including 150 yards against Northwestern. Michigan’s defense has been the team’s most reliable unit, allowing just 95.6 rushing yards per game and ranking near the top of the FBS in total defense. The front seven will need to keep Raymond from finding consistent success while also containing whatever quarterback Greg Schiano turns to in Lonergan’s place.
Michigan’s edge players and linebackers have shown the ability to disrupt both the run and the pass this season. Holding Rutgers under its season average in total yards would continue the defensive standard set against Indiana and force the Scarlet Knights into difficult third-down situations. Rutgers has averaged positive turnovers in recent games, and Michigan’s secondary has created enough disruption to capitalize on those opportunities. If the Wolverines can limit Raymond and keep the backup quarterback from settling into a rhythm, the defense should once again give the offense a short field or at least prevent Rutgers from scoring enough to stay competitive. That defensive reliability has been the one constant through Michigan’s uneven start, and it remains the clearest reason for optimism heading into the final stretch of the season.
A Realistic Path Forward
Michigan does not need to solve every offensive issue in one afternoon, but winning these three matchups would address the most immediate problems. A productive day from Marshall and Hiter would restore balance. A steady performance from Carr would provide evidence that the freshman can manage games without creating unnecessary risk. And another strong showing from the front seven would keep Rutgers from generating the kind of explosive plays that could turn a winnable game into a closer contest than expected. The Wolverines have the defensive foundation and the favorable matchup on the schedule. If the offense can convert those advantages into points, Saturday becomes the kind of building-block win that stabilizes a 4-3 record and sets a better tone for the remaining Big Ten slate.
