• The Michigan run game is 19th in the FBS, averaging 216.3 yards per contest. Six different players have scored on the ground this year, led by Justice Haynes, who ranks fifth in the nation with eight rushing touchdowns.
• The offensive line has paved the way for 17 touchdowns on the ground so far this year while allowing only eight sacks against in the pass game. Despite four different starting lineups across the first six games due to injuries, the unit has helped lead the way offensively.
• The offense is permitting opposing defenses to create 4.17 negative plays per game, ranking U-M 25th nationally in tackles for loss allowed.
• The U-M offense has tallied 29 plays of 20-plus yards on offense (17 receiving, 12 rushing) through six weeks (six in week one, four, eight, three, seven, one). Justice Haynes leads the team with seven such plays (all rushes), followed by Donaven McCulley (five; all receiving) and Andrew Marsh (five; four receiving, one rushing). Additionally, Marsh has three via kickoff return.
• Running back Justice Haynes paces the rushing attack. He has reached at least 100 yards rushing with at least one touchdown in five of six contests this year (159, 125, 104, 149, 117 yards). His streak of five consecutive 100-yard games to start the year was the longest streak of 100-yard games since Blake Corum hit the century mark in eight consecutive games in 2022.
• Haynes’ 705 total rushing yards are the most in the Big Ten, despite Haynes ranking fifth in carries across the league. Even though he missed most of the contest at USC, Haynes is fourth nationally in rushing yards per game (117.5), averaging 7.42 yards per carry (sixth, FBS). Both figures lead the Big Ten.
• Fifteen (15) of Haynes’ 95 rushes have gone for 10-plus yards (15.7 percent), and he has long runs of 43, 56, 59 and 75 yards (twice). Washington’s Jonah Coleman also has 15 runs of 10-plus yards on 96 carries. With similar workloads this season, the two backs have forced 20 (Haynes) and 21 (Coleman) missed tackles, respectively, according to PFF.
• Haynes is one of only two backs (Hollywood Smothers, NC State) with five or more runs of 40-plus yards and one of only two backs (Robert Henry Jr., UTSA) with four or more runs of 50-plus yards.
• Haynes’ backfield mate Jordan Marshall is averaging 5.1 yards per carry with three touchdowns. Quarterback Bryce Underwood is averaging 5.5 yards per carry with three touchdowns of his own. Adjusted for sacks, Underwood averages 7.6 yards per carry (25 rushes for 190 yards).
• Underwood’s 59.7 percent completion rating (92-of-154 passing) comes with an average of 7.86 yards per attempt and a pass efficiency rating of 133.9. He ranks 23rd in the nation with 13.15 yards per completion, which ranks third in the Big Ten behind only USC’s Jayden Maiava and Washington’s Demond Williams Jr.
• Michigan’s passing game continues to develop. Eleven (11) different players have caught passes so far this year, including five with 10 or more receptions. Donaven McCulley has nine catches and two touchdowns across the past two games, while Andrew Marsh has 218 yards and a score of his own.
• Marsh’s 69-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter at USC — the first TD of his career — was Michigan’s longest pass play this year and the longest passing play since a 75-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy to Cornelius Johnson at Ohio State (2022).
• On the season, U-M is one of seven teams in the nation with six or more rushing plays of 40-plus yards (UCF, BYU, Georgia Tech, Texas State, UTSA, Vanderbilt).
• U-M is winning the turnover battle with a 11:4 ratio (two fumbles lost, two interceptions). U-M’s 11 turnovers gained rank 16th across the FBS.
• On the defensive side of the turnover battle, Cole Sullivan leads the team with three turnovers forced (two interceptions, one fumble recovery).
• The Wolverines rank 12th in interceptions (eight) and have multiple turnovers in four of six games, with at least one in each contest. Seven different players have U-M’s eight picks: Zeke Berry, Elijah Dotson, T.J. Guy, Brandyn Hillman, TJ Metcalf, Rod Moore and Cole Sullivan.
• Michigan’s defense has registered at least one interception in 10 straight games dating back to 2024.
• Through six games, 17 different players have an interception or pass breakup: four linebackers, three defensive linemen, and 10 defensive backs. Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry share thelead with four breakups. The Wolverines are second in the Big Ten in total pass breakups (passes defended plus interceptions) with 30 (Oregon, 33).
• The pass rush has averaged 2.5 quarterback takedowns per game (34th, FBS). U-M’s 15 sacks generated are tied-fifth in the Big Ten. That has helped pad a TFL rank of 26th nationally, with the defense averaging 6.7 negative plays per contest. Jaishawn Barham leads the team in both categories (3.0 sacks, 6.0 TFL).
• The pass rush will need to be active against UW’s Demond Williams Jr., who ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 1,628 passing yards and second in completion percentage (74.1).
• Linebacker Ernest Hausmann is pacing the defense with 40 tackles through six games, followed closely by Jimmy Rolder (34). Each of the team’s top three tacklers (Cole Sullivan, 26) are in the linebacker room.
• Defensive back Brandyn Hillman (25 tackles) leads the DB room, and Trey Pierce (15) is the leader among interior linemen.
• Washington’s Jonah Coleman ranks fifth in the league with 518 rushing yards (5.4 yards per attempt), and paces the Big Ten with 11 rushing touchdowns. U-M is holding opposing rushers to 3.1 yards per attempt (609 yards on 196 attempts).
• Opponents have combined to score only four field goals and two touchdowns in fourth quarters this year. U-M has permitted only five touchdowns and four field goals across six second halves. That average of 7.8 points allowed per game in second halves ranks tied-17th across the FBS.
