Michigan sees signs of perfect-timing as Moore reflects on progress

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Many don't quite remember how the 2021 season went for Michigan football, instead looking back at the torrid finish to the season without quite recalling the details of much of the year.

Yes, the Wolverines blew out all three nonconference opponents, and eventually pulled away from Wisconsin for the first win in Madison in 20 years, but it had a lot of close calls or closer-than-expected games throughout the year. A late finish in Lincoln, mediocre wins vs. Northwestern and Indiana at home. A comeback win against a down Penn State in Happy Valley. But outside of those first three games of the year, Michigan didn't quite dominate until that penultimate regular-season game against Maryland.

What happened next? Well, you know the story.

That was a long slog of a drive to get Michigan to that Ohio State game, but even in 2024, the Wolverines didn't dominate a single opponent until the penultimate game against Northwestern. What happened next? Well, you know the story.

One thing that previous iterations of the maize and blue hadn't done as they perennially lost to the Buckeyes is they peaked early and fell apart late. Or they found their way at the right time. The hope for this team is that exactly that is recurring, happening again with The Game forthcoming next week.

"This whole season, we've been preaching a peak at the perfect time," quarterback Bryce Underwood said after the Maryland game. "And I feel like it's coming along."

So what has allowed previous teams, and more importantly, this team, to potentially be in that position? Of course, next to no one is going to give Michigan a chance against its No. 1-rated rival on Saturday, but what the Wolverines are doing well, it's consistent. So, as head coach Sherrone Moore says, it's matter of continuing in that direction.

"The cool thing about what's happening is, is you have a bunch of guys that are playing at a high level at the right time," Moore said. "But when you rush for 200 yards for four straight games, it's really hard to do that in the Big Ten. And to do that and throw the ball as consistent as we did — I mean, Bryce was 16-for-23. And so to do that with the balance is huge. 

"And to do that in this environment, in this game, getting ready for the next one was a great sign for us."

Why has Michigan succeeded this year? What's allowed it to arrive at The Game appearing to be peaking, playing its best football at the right time? Moore says it's about what's happening behind the scenes.

"Just continued practice and preparation," Moore said. "We talked about starving our distractions and feeding our focus. And all the things that can distract you in the world, and what can happen, whatever that is, eliminating that. And especially in this time, like we talked about, they always remember November. They always remember that month and what you do there. So playing our best football now is huge, and we look to continue to do that."

Michigan and Ohio State will kick off at noon EST at The Big House with The Game broadcast on Fox with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft on the call.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan peaking again as Sherrone Moore explains late-season surge

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