New-look USC rolling, but Michigan seems off-kilter

The No. 11 USC Trojans and No. 18 Michigan Wolverines are among college football’s bluest of blue-blood programs, but the teams seem to be headed in opposite directions.

Under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, the Wolverines (2-1) were routed by the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and struggled to beat Group of Five opponents Fresno State and Arkansas State.

Meanwhile, Big Ten newcomer USC (2-0) earned a signature win over No. 16 LSU and a resounding triumph over Utah State. 

On Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, Mich., the longtime powers will renew a rivalry that has an illustrious Rose Bowl history.

On campus, the current Michigan football team is known as Team 145, the 145th team to suit up in Ann Arbor. Team 144 won the national championship, finishing 15-0 and defeating powerhouses Ohio State, Alabama and Washington.

But Team 145 pales in comparison so far to its immediate predecessor, prompting restlessness among Wolverines fans.

Wolverines Wire editor Isaiah Hole of the USA Today Network has criticized the coaching staff for stubbornly sticking “to scheme[s] instead of taking what players do best and making those the focal points.” 

Hole noted running back Donovan Edwards is “a big receiving threat” but is rarely lined up outside, and talented sophomore wide receiver Semaj Morgan’s explosive potential has not been tapped. In three games, he only has nine catches for 56 yards and one touchdown.

In the Arkansas State game, quarterback Davis Warren threw three interceptions, leading to his benching. “[P]ut the ball in harm’s way too many times,” Moore told reporters about the senior. 

Redshirt sophomore Alex Orji will replace Warren against the Trojans.