Michigan football was in complete trouble with the loss to Oregon

Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin answers three questions after Michigan football's 38-17 loss to No. 1 Oregon on Saturday in Ann Arbor.

How ugly was the first half for Michigan?

Even Michigan's most ardent fans knew their favorite team had little chance of upsetting the top-ranked Ducks.

They noted that Oregon seemed far superior to their beloved Wolverines.

But even though they were willing to digest an unfavorable result, it must have been painful for them to watch the Wolverines fall apart so quickly – resulting in an 18-point halftime deficit that would prove insurmountable.

In the early stages, Oregon beat Michigan at every turn and terrorized the reigning national champions at home. The Ducks reached the end zone on four of their first five possessions, shredding the Wink Martindale defense until it was in tatters. When Dillon Gabriel rushed 23 yards for a touchdown with 35 seconds left in the first half, Michigan looked completely bonkers.

It trailed 28-10 and the lopsided score painted an accurate picture of the proceedings. After all, Michigan seemed completely outmatched. This was particularly true on offense, which had been a weak spot all season. On Saturday, the running game failed to gain momentum as Davis Warren, who returned as Michigan's starting quarterback in a seven-point win over Michigan State last week, struggled to maintain momentum in the early going. During this weak period, the Wolverines repeatedly fell behind. They were repeatedly repulsed against Oregon's ferocious front. Six of the 26 games they played in the first half resulted in some sort of defeat. It was a recipe for disaster and total collapse ensued.

By halftime, the Ducks had outrebounded Michigan by 193 yards, laying the foundation for a comfortable win.

What would this offense be without Colston Loveland?

Saturday's loss would have been even worse if the Wolverines hadn't had Colston Loveland.

The junior tight end from Idaho, who was the only returning offensive starter on the 2023 team that reached the top of college football, continued to be the Wolverines' primary source of income and Warren's favorite target.

Loveland caught seven passes for 112 yards, made one critical play after another and produced 67% of the pass attack. His contributions late in the second quarter helped Michigan to its longest drive of the first half, ending in a 38-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada. On that possession, Warren Loveland delivered an 18-yard shot. Then he found the tight end again, on a reverse flea flicker. Loveland grabbed the ball low, threw aside Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher and ran up the sideline for a 36-yard gain. It was an amazing individual performance that served as another reminder that he is easily Michigan's best weapon. Loveland's talent was unfortunately wasted because the skills of the players around him were inadequate and the quarterback play wasn't nearly good enough. That's an indictment of a coaching staff that failed to make major acquisitions in the transfer portal that could help Loveland.

As a result, Michigan's offense is powered by one main engine – Loveland. Without him, the Wolverines would be stuck in neutral.

What is the most disturbing part of Michigan's decline?

While most blame Sherrone Moore's poor management of the quarterback position for Michigan's post-championship decline, the cause of the program's regression is far deeper and broader. After all, there are problems in all areas. The offense is inefficient. The defense is porous. The special teams are flawed. And the coaching was missing at times. All of this was on display in a loss to Oregon, which looks like Michigan was the complete team a year ago.

The Ducks rolled up 470 yards and converted 10 of 15 third downs against Martindale's defense, which has been vulnerable all year. Not surprisingly, Michigan couldn't keep up. For the fourth time this season, fewer than 20 points were scored. The Wolverines were ruined in part by their self-inflicted mistakes and strange decisions. An offsides penalty in the third quarter extended an Oregon drive that resulted in a 26-yard field goal. A bizarre trick play call on fourth-and-5 from the Oregon 10-yard line that ended with receiver Semaj Morgan throwing a pass out of bounds thwarted Michigan's final fourth-quarter comeback attempt.

The problems facing this team are diverse and affect all areas. That's what's so disturbing.

Michigan football was in complete trouble with the loss to Oregon

How ugly was the first half for Michigan?

What would this offense be without Colston Loveland?

What is the most disturbing part of Michigan's decline?

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