Countdown to Big Noon Saturday: Can Michigan Find Its Spark Against Northwestern?

Two teams trending in opposite directions meet at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon with plenty to play for.Michigan enters Saturday’s Big Noon matchup fresh off a bye week and riding a three-game winning streak, but questions remain about whether the Wolverines’ offense can generate enough firepower to compete with the Big Ten’s elite. Northwestern, on the other hand, started the season with a record of 5-2 but has since lost two consecutive games. Now sitting one victory shy of bowl eligibility, Northwestern faces its most difficult stretch yet — beginning with a Michigan team built to win games like this.FOX Sports college football writers Laken Litman, Michael Cohen and RJ Young weigh in on Week 12’s “Big Noon Saturday” showdown between Michigan (7-2) and Northwestern (5-4).1. Michigan is coming off a bye and has won three straight heading into Saturday’s matchup against Northwestern — what do you see as the Wolverines’ biggest flaw or vulnerability that could surface in a game like this?RJ Young: Michigan lacks the kind of offensive firepower needed to overcome a two-score deficit. If the Wolverines find themselves in that position again — as they did against Oklahoma and USC — it’s hard to see offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and quarterback Bryce Underwood finding the answers that other teams have managed this season.This is an offense that has to stay on schedule and play complementary football to help its defense control games. The good news is that Northwestern has a similar structure to the Wolverines. Bryce Underwood, #19, of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates the victory against the Washington Huskies. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) Michael Cohen: RJ’s read on the situation is accurate for an offense that will enter the weekend tied for 67th nationally and 11th in the Big Ten in scoring at 28.1 points per game, one spot behind offensively challenged Iowa in the conference rankings. And even that figure — 28.1 points per game — is somewhat misleading considering how much of an outlier the Wolverines’ 63-3 win over Central Michigan has proven to be relative to the other games on their schedule. This was the only game this season in which Michigan scored more than 34 points and only one of four occasions when it reached 30. Without it, the Wolverines’ scoring average drops to 23.8 points per game, a number that would place them into a tie for 95th nationally. Michigan scored 22 points per match last season, despite having a rotating quarterback. Then they fired their offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell. What is your biggest weakness or vulnerability? It’s the downfield passing attack. Michigan is ranked 107th in passing yards per contest (185.7). It’s also one of just 10 teams to have fewer than 3 completions of more than 40 yards. This list includes Bowling Green and Coastal Carolina. Also on the list are UCLA, Virginia Tech and Oregon State. Some of that can be attributed to dropped passes: The Wolverines’ total of 19 already this season is only two shy of the 21 Michigan racked up across 15 games while winning the national title in 2023. Bryce Underwood’s 60.9% completion rate ranks 87th in the nation. This can be partly attributed to the offensive line, which has been rearranging its players all season. Seven linemen have played at least 235 snaps in this season. Put all that together, and it’s clear that right now — with only two weeks remaining before Michigan’s showdown against No. 1 Ohio State — the passing attack isn’t good enough to dig the Wolverines out of any holes. Laken Litman: Bryce Underwood needs to perform at his peak if Michigan wants to defeat Ohio State for the fifth year in a row. To be at his very best, Bryce Underwood must get into a good rhythm during games such as this one against Northwestern. The Wolverines are riding a three-game winning streak, but Underwood’s production has dipped in the two games leading into the bye. Underwood completed 8 of 17 passes against Michigan State for 86 yard and no touchdowns, but then went 13-of-22 with 145 yard and an interception at Purdue. Michigan’s ground game is strong, averaging 223.8 yards per game and 5.8 yards per run. But head coach Sherrone Moore must find a better way to utilize Underwood. And that’s not where the injury list ends. The list also includes linebackers Jimmy Rolder, Cole Sullivan and Rod Moore. Tight ends Hogan Hansen, Marlin Klein and wide receiver Donaven McCulley are also included. Michigan runningback Justice Haynes talks to the press during a postgame conference following a game against Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) There’s still so much up in the air with the College Football Michigan needs to be healthy if it wants to have any chance of making the 12-team field. Northwestern’s hot start feels like a long time ago. After two straight losses and a tough stretch ahead, what’s gone wrong for the Wildcats — and what needs to happen to salvage a bowl bid?Laken Litman: What’s gone wrong is that after starting 5-2 – with an upset win over Penn State on the road – Northwestern has run into more talented teams like Nebraska and USC and are now 5-4. Fair enough, the Wildcats had a slim chance of winning those games. This week, even though the game against Michigan is in Chicago at Wrigley Field, Wolverines fans travel well, so it’s hard to imagine that crowd being an advantage for the home team. With games remaining against Michigan and Minnesota, it seems possible that the Wildcats will be bowl eligible with just one victory. Perhaps it will happen against the Golden Gophers at home on Nov. 22. RJ Young: Quite simply, Northwestern had the benefit of playing against poor competition. Every one of the Wildcats’ wins this season has come against teams who have won three games or fewer. Each of their losses came against teams with winning records. Wildcats are unable to win when competing at their level. Even though the games are close, a small break can make all the difference. The Wolverines might be the ones to get a break in what I’m expecting to be a game with low scores. Preston Stone #8 celebrates after the Northwestern Wildcats’ game against Penn State. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) Michael Cohen: There’s a saying in football, and rightfully so, that quarterbacks always receive too much praise when their team wins and receive far too much blame when their team loses. But it’s hard to ignore the bipolar production put forth by Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone based on the level of competition, as Laken and RJ both noted.In victories over Western Illinois, UCLA, UL-Monroe, Penn State and Purdue — five teams with a combined record of 14-33 this season — Stone has thrown 10 touchdowns with only one interception while averaging 183.4 yards per game. But in losses to Tulane, the then-No. In losses to Tulane and No. 19 USC — four teams with a combined record of 29-8 — Stone has thrown just one touchdown and eight interceptions while averaging 151.3 yards per game.So while the Wildcats only need one victory in their final three games to reach bowl eligibility, achieving that feat might be more difficult than it sounds given who’s left on the schedule: No. 18 Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois — three teams that have all notched at least six victories this season. The likelihood of Stone finding another gear at this point in the season against high-quality opponents feels slim, which means Northwestern’s losing streak should continue on Saturday and beyond. RJ Young writes and analyses college football for FOX Sports. Follow him @RJ_Young.Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him @Michael_Cohen13.Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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2025-11-14 01:13:40