Michigan football focused on locking up bowl game, but expect to see more young faces

For the first time in four years, Michigan football will not play in the College Football Playoff.

Those dreams were dashed in October, when U-M’s recent 1-4 plummet began, however that doesn’t mean the Wolverines aren’t eyeing the postseason once again. Michigan (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) is one victory away from clinching a bowl berth, which in-turn adds an extra month of practices for the program, something head coach Sherrone Moore sees as a critical step toward getting the program headed back in the right direction.

Michigan co-offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore high fives running back Donovan Edwards (7) after Edwards’s scored a touchdown against Ohio State during the second half Nov. 26, 2022 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

Of course, that’s not all that remains to play for over these final two weeks of the 2024 regular season.

“Both these games mean a lot,” Moore told team color commentator Jon Jansen on a recent episode of in-house podcast ‘Inside The Trenches’. “Northwestern, trophy game, we’re 2-0 in trophy games and allows us to be bowl eligible which is a huge piece.

“Then obviously, the last one (Ohio State), not much motivation needed for that one.”

The past three years, U-M had clinched its spot in the postseason by the second week of October, frequently winning games in lopsided fashion to create opportunity for reserves in the fourth quarter of games to gain valuable game reps. This year, U-M has found itself in a number of tight contests: three of its five wins have come by one possession, which has left coaches fighting for every inch, every step of the way.

As a result, fewer underclasses have seen the field for meaningful snaps, which only adds to the importance of getting one additional contest.

“It’s great for the whole team to get extra practices, but especially our young guys…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-focused-locking-bowl-111100286.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-11-21 11:11:00

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