Michigan Football Has "Very, Very Small" Margin for Error in Last 3 Games, Kirk Herbstreit Says

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Michigan Football Has "Very, Very Small" Margin for Error in Last 3 Games, Kirk Herbstreit Says

Key Points:

  • Michigan has three games left
  • Kirk Herbstreit shared his thoughts
  • Joey Galloway agreed with ‘Herbie’

The Michigan Wolverines have three games left on their 2025-26 schedule with hopes of qualifying for the second-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

Michigan will hit the road next Saturday to take on coach David Braun’s Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago, followed by a road game against marquee freshman quarterback Mailk Washington and the Maryland Terrapins before the final game vs. Ohio State.

Michigan is 7-2 on the season, 5-1 in the Big Ten, dealing with several key injuries that could cause coach Sherrone Moore’s team to have a “very, very small margin for error” heading down the stretch according to one ESPN pundit.

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) talks to teammates before a play against Purdue during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Herbstreit, Galloway Discuss Wolverines’ Playoff Chances

Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit and Joey Galloway discussed Michigan’s playoff chances on Wednesday during which they came to a consensus: Michigan will make the CFP if they win out and beat the Buckeyes at home.

“…If they win those next two on the road, I think they’re 60 minutes away from playing Ohio State, where they’d have to win the game, and if they win it, I think they’d be in,” Herbstreit said.

“If they knock off Ohio State, sign ’em up,” Galloway added. “The short answer is absolutely they have a shot, the long answer is they have to beat Ohio State.”

Michigan’s Margin of Error Small, Herbstreit Adds

Herbstreit added that he believes Michigan has a “very, very small margin for error” heading down the stretch of the season, noting the recent foot injury to Justice Haynes at running back.

He indicated that he doesn’t have faith in Michigan’s passing game, with Galloway saying “it’s gonna be ugly” in Michigan’s final three games based on the way he believes they have the best chance to win.

Bye Week Comes at Perfect Time

Michigan has a bye week this weekend before heading to Chicago to tangle with Braun’s Wildcats.

Coach Moore said Michigan plans to rest up and get some of its players back in time for next weekend’s game.

Braun’s team ranks near the middle of the Big Ten in total offense with just over 360 yards per game and is closer to the top of the league in defense with 304.3 yards given up per game, nearly dead even with the Wolverines’ defense (304.0).

The game could be more evenly matched than expected on paper considering Michigan QB Bryce Underwood’s road struggles.

The game’s location will make it feel more like a bowl game than a regular season game.

Moore and the Wolverines know they have a tough road ahead of them, and it starts with resting up for a matchup with a team that has the talent to win.

Related: Dusty May’s Reaction to Son Charlie May’s First Points in a Michigan Uniform Said it All

Related: Bucs Coach Todd Bowles Shared Special Day With Son at Major College Football Game Saturday

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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