Michigan Football: 5 Storylines to Watch Down the Stretch
The Michigan football program has entered the final month of its season, and a handful of storylines surround the Wolverines down the stretch.
Following a loss to Utah in the opener, Michigan became a dominant team carried by its defense and demanded a place in the national spotlight. However, the unit's most recent outing was forgettable at best.
Conversely, the offensive line has faltered. But one explosive player could bolster a purely average Wolverines attack throughout the final four games of the regular season.
How Michigan fares in those four outings will determine whether or not it can steal a Big Ten championship, though the Wolverines must challenge a longtime rival first.
Can the Defense Regain Its Consistently Elite Form?
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No one pressed the panic button, but it's a legitimate question. After such a strong opening half to the year, can Michigan's defense rebound?
The Wolverines thoroughly dominated from Sept. 12 to Oct. 10, holding five teams to a combined 2.6 yards per play. They played well enough to beat Michigan State, but the next outing was a completely different story.
Yes, Minnesota had its fair share of luck—most evident when a should-be-interception turned into a big gain—but that's the way football works. Don't put yourself in a place where luck could decide the outcome.
Was it a hangover after the Michigan State loss? Was it simply a bad day?
Starting Saturday against Rutgers, Michigan will provide the initial answer to that question. The expectation is a "yes" to the latter, but we don't know for sure.
Where Is the Offensive Line?
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During September, Michigan's offensive line stood out. Although the competition wasn't stellar, the unit visibly improved each week and seemed to be trending up.
It had a strong push off the snap, blockers worked toward the second level and the Wolverines created some explosive runs.
But once Big Ten action arrived, Michigan stopped moving forward. The O-line has consistently failed to win the line of scrimmage, and a big run is basically picking up eight yards.
The Wolverines will take on the Nos. 55, 67, 44 and 50 run defenses, respectively, down the stretch. While that's not an easy finish, it should be manageable. Can the offensive line handle it?
Will Jabrill Peppers' Role Keep Expanding?
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Jim Harbaugh certainly heard the noise about using Jabrill Peppers on offense, and the Michigan head coach answered with an A-plus troll: He inserted the versatile star into the lineup as the deep man in the victory formation.
But as the competition level and meaningfulness of games has picked up, Peppers has found a place in the offense. He even scored a touchdown at Minnesota.
"The unique thing about Jabrill Peppers is athletic ability and instincts at a very, very high level," Harbaugh said, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. "He's very intelligent, he memorizes things easily and well."
Peppers is arguably the team's biggest playmaker, yet he's only registered a handful of offensive reps. That number is rising, though, and it looks like the beginning of a trend.
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Will Michigan Topple Ohio State?
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The Wolverines hold the overall series edge, but the Buckeyes have won 12 of the last 14 meetings. Part of Harbaugh's job description likely includes that he must stop Ohio State's reign.
Considering all the uncertainty in Columbus, Michigan has a realistic chance to derail the Buckeyes' hopes for a repeat national championship.
Ohio State had finally settled on a quarterback, but he messed up off the field and potentially cost himself the job. While the once-vaunted defense is formidable, it's not untouchable.
However, it's not like there aren't questions in Ann Arbor. From the recent defensive letdown to a disappearing offensive line to unimpressive quarterback play, the Wolverines are looking for answers, too.
On paper, the 2015 matchup should be tightly contested all the way to the finish—which in true Big Ten fashion means a blowout is coming—and the winner might gain more than pride.
How Does the Division Title Shake Out?
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Did you know: The last time "The Game" mattered to both programs in the chase for a conference title was in 2007.
Seems crazy, right? But barring a Michigan loss to one of Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State or Ohio State falling to Michigan State, the season finale will have Big Ten East Division implications.
Tiebreakers do not favor the Wolverines. They'll need some serious respect from the College Football Playoff committee to leap both OSU and MSU, so Michigan must beat the Buckeyes and hope Utah keeps winning, too.
Ohio State, on the other hand, has an advantage in the CFP rankings. After all, it received a No. 3 ranking in the first poll despite not accomplishing much to this point.
The Wolverines might not win the Big Ten East, but they certainly could cause some havoc.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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