• The Michigan run game is 13th in the FBS, averaging 237.8 yards per contest. Six different players have scored on the ground this year, led by Justice Haynes, who ranks fourth 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 five sacks against in the pass game (19th, FBS). Despite three different starting lineups across the first five games due to injuries, the unit has helped lead the way offensively.
• The U-M offense has ripped off 28 plays of 20-plus yards on offense (16 receiving, 12 rushing) through five weeks (six in week one, four, eight, three, seven). Justice Haynes leads the team with seven such plays (all rushes), followed by Donaven McCulley (five; all receiving) and Andrew Marsh (four; three 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 all five contests this year (159, 125, 104, 149, 117 yards), the longest streak of 100-yard games since Blake Corum hit the century mark in eight consecutive games in 2022.
• Haynes’ 654 total rushing yards are the most in the Big Ten (next: USC’s Waymont Jordan, 537 yards). For the season, Haynes is third nationally in rushing yards per game (130.8), averaging 7.69 yards per carry (fifth, FBS). Both figures lead the Big Ten.
• Haynes helped the U-M offense total 175 rushing yards against the Badgers, who saw their nation-leading run defense go from first (50 yards per game) to sixth (74.6 yards per game) after playing the Wolverines.
• Fourteen (14) of Haynes’ 85 rushes have gone for 10-plus yards (16.5 percent), and he has long runs of 43, 56, 59 and 75 yards (twice). He 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.
• PFF credits Haynes with 20 missed tackles forced, tied-third-most in the Big Ten. USC’s Waymond Jordan is credited with 24 missed tackles forced. He and Haynes share a tie for the third-most first downs (28) among Big Ten backs. Rutgers’ Antwan Raymond (36) and Washington’s Jonah Coleman (33) lead the way.
• Haynes’ backfield mate Jordan Marshall is averaging 5.2 yards per carry with three touchdowns. Quarterback Bryce Underwood is averaging 6.7 yards per carry with three touchdowns of his own.
• Underwood’s 59.2 percent completion rating (77-of-130 passing) comes with an average of 7.7 yards per attempt.
• Michigan’s passing game continues to develop. Eleven (11) different players have caught passes so far this year, including six with five or more receptions.
• On the season, U-M is one of five teams in the nation with six or more offensive plays of 40-plus yards (UCF, BYU, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt).
• U-M is winning the turnover battle with a 9:3 ratio (two fumbles lost, one interception). The Wolverines are one of 15 teams to have at least 130 pass attempts with one or zero interceptions.
• 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 (seven) and have multiple turnovers in three of five games, with at least one in each contest. Six different players have U-M’s seven picks: Elijah Dotson, T.J. Guy, Brandyn Hillman, TJ Metcalf, Rod Moore and Cole Sullivan.
• Through five games, 17 different players have an interception or pass breakup: four linebackers, three defensive linemen, and 10 defensive backs. Jyaire Hill leads the team with four breakups.
• The run defense has been stout, allowing 77.0 yards per game (seventh, FBS) and 2.4 yards per carry on 160 rushes against. Oklahoma (two) and Wisconsin (one) are the only teams to score a rushing touchdown against the Wolverines this year.
• The pass rush has been a force for the U-M defense, averaging three quarterback takedowns per game (13th, FBS). U-M’s 15 sacks generated are tied-fourth in the Big Ten. That has helped pad a TFL rank of 22nd nationally, with the defense averaging seven negative plays per contest. Jaishawn Barham leads the team in both categories (3.0 sacks, 5.0 TFL).
• The secondary and pass rush will need to be up to the task this weekend against a USC opponent that averages 338 pass yards per contest (third, FBS) with a team pass efficiency rating of 190.79 (fifth). Derrick Moore (14 pressures) and Barham spearhead the pass-rushing attack.
• Linebacker Ernest Hausmann is pacing the defense with 31 tackles through four games, followed closely by Jimmy Rolder (28), who set a career high (seven tackles) against the Badgers. Three of the team’s top four tacklers (Cole Sullivan, 22) are in the linebacker room.
• Defensive back Brandyn Hillman (23 tackles) leads the DB room, and Trey Pierce (13) is the leader among interior linemen.
• Opponents have combined to score only three field goals and one touchdown in fourth quarters this year. U-M has permitted only three touchdowns and three field goals across five second halves. That average of six points allowed per game in second halves ranks ninth across the FBS.
• U-M has been excellent in several special teams areas, including kick return defense (24th, 15.63 yards). Specialist Beckham Sunderland has generated 20 touchbacks on 31 attempts.
