It’s Week 8 of college football, and the Michigan football team has found itself on a slippery slope. After dropping the ball [against](https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/football/well-balanced-usc-offense-tramples-no-15-michigan-31-13/) No. 20 Southern California, the Wolverines not only fell out of the top-25, but they now likely need to win out if they want any chance of seeing the College Football Playoffs.
It’s sink or swim for Michigan, but that doesn’t mean Washington doesn’t have any skin in the game. If the Huskies can secure the win over the Wolverines, they will ensure bowl eligibility while also increasing their chances in the CFP hunt.
Both programs have arrived at a crossroads: Michigan is searching for redemption, while Washington is looking to bolster its postseason case. The tension already feels palpable on both sides, and there’s a lot that makes for an interesting matchup.
With that being said, here’s what to watch for:
**Can Michigan’s run defense bounce back?**
The Wolverines’ run [defense](https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/football/michigan-run-defense-no-match-for-depleted-usc-backfield/) against USC was porous. Despite the Trojans missing their top two running backs, they had no problem racking up the yards on the ground against Michigan. USC running back King Miller, a redshirt freshman walk-on who stepped up for the Trojans, rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown in their trouncing of the Wolverines.
When asked about the root cause of its lackluster defensive performance, Michigan had one answer: tackling.
“We didn’t tackle very well,” Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said Saturday. “We could’ve tackled a lot better. … No excuses. We got to continue to attack and get better.”
Tackling has been a point of emphasis for Michigan for some time now. As the number of missed tackles has continued to climb throughout the season, the Wolverines have stressed the need to return to the fundamentals. But talk alone won’t be enough against a powerful running back like Jonah Coleman.
This season, Coleman has been quite the productive back. So far, he’s had 96 carries for 518 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns for Washington — the most in the nation. If Michigan’s defense hopes to shut down Coleman, it’ll have to be at the top of its tackling game. Because for the Wolverines, there are just two options: slow down Coleman or risk the game slipping away just like against USC.
**Can Michigan contain Demond Williams Jr.?**
Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is a double-edged sword. In addition to his powerful arm, he’s both fast and elusive on the field, forcing opposing defenders to prepare for all facets of his versatile game.
“He’s dangerous,” Moore said Monday. “He’s dangerous running the ball. He’s dangerous throwing the ball. He’s dangerous when it’s a scrambled play. So we’ve got to do a great job of containing him and making him uncomfortable in whatever facet we decide to do that in.”
Williams enters Week 8 as the fourth-ranked quarterback in the Big Ten in passing yards with 1,628. But the stat sheet only tells part of the story. As Moore said, Williams is also a threat on the ground, and through this season he has made significant use of his legs, rushing for 382 yards.
One other notable aspect of Williams’ game is his ability to produce on the fly. While Michigan loves to blitz, his agility will make him a much harder target to pin because even when the pocket collapses, the play doesn’t end. It just restarts on his terms.
If the Wolverines hope to contain Williams, they’ll want to stop him at the line of scrimmage.
**Will the Underwood-McCulley-Marsh connection continue?**
Through Michigan’s past two games, freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has found success with wide receivers graduate Donaven McCulley and freshman Andrew Marsh. With nine receptions for 151 yards and 12 receptions for 218 yards, respectively, both McCulley and Marsh have distinguished themselves as reliable targets for Underwood.
“I think you’ve seen some playmakers evolve, some guys step up that you hadn’t really seen in the beginning of the year,” Moore said. “Donaven McCulley has really stepped up. Obviously, Andrew Marsh, a true freshman, is making plays.”
McCulley and Marsh’s growth will now be tested against Washington, but if the two receivers play their cards right, they could give the Wolverines the leg up they’ve been looking for.
The Huskies’ pass defense ranks in the lower portion of the conference with an average of 235.7 passing yards allowed per game. As a result of momentary lapses in coverage, Washington has struggled to contain plays in the air, leaving opportunities that Underwood — and his receiver core — could take advantage of.
The opportunity is there for Michigan, but only if McCulley and Marsh can continue their momentum. With consistent catches and steady production, both McCulley and Marsh could give the Wolverines the edge that they need come Saturday.
\*\*\*
When it comes to what to watch for, the checklist is clear: stop the run, contain the quarterback and maintain Underwood, McCulley and Marsh’s connection. If Michigan can do all these things, its path to the playoffs remains open — at least through this week.