Nebraska begins a string of winnable games for the Wolverines
ANN ARBOR — The Wolverines were still dripping with sweat from their latest game when they started thinking about the next one. By Saturday evening, SMU, and the nonconference portion of the schedule, were in the rear view mirror. Nebraska, and Big Ten play, were next.
«I’ve already heard murmurs around the locker room: ‘The Big Ten starts right now,'» senior defensive end Chase Winovich said after Michigan’s 45-10 win over SMU made it two of three for U-M to start the season. «I think mentally we’ll be even more focused this week. Because we know this has greater implications. You can’t blow one of these.»
His coach would agree. Jim Harbaugh said Big Ten games «almost count as two,» referring to the swing in the league standings.
Acquiring those valuable victories may not as difficult this season as in many years past. Nebraska was one of seven Big Ten teams that lost on Saturday, and one of five to fall to a non-power-conference opponent. Ohio State earned a signature win, at TCU, and is ranked in the top-10 along with Penn State. Indiana, Minnesota, and Iowa have built their 3-0 records against weak competition. Every other Big Ten squad suffered at least one loss in nonconference play.
At least one Wolverine is not aware of any of that. Fullback Ben Mason was asked Tuesday about staying focused even though Michigan’s next four opponents were all upset on Saturday.
«What did you say? The next four?» Mason said. «I don’t even know who lost, who won. I just focus on this team. And I actually mean that — I have no clue.»
Mason said he’ll sometimes watch other college teams’ games, but he didn’t on Saturday. If he had, he would have seen a Big Ten that has its share of issues. The Cornhuskers haven’t fully bought in to new coach Scott Frost, and starting a walk-on quarterback contributed to a home loss to Troy. Northwestern allowed 36 second-half points to Akron to fall to 1-2. Maryland couldn’t throw the ball against Temple, losing 35-14 at home. Wisconsin was beaten in the trenches in a home loss to BYU.
Those are Michigan’s next four opponents. There’s every reason to believe Michigan will be favored in each of those games. The schedule gets tougher after that — a trip to East Lansing, a visit from Penn State, and of course the Buckeyes to wrap the regular season. The Wolverines will have to improve in order to be competitive in those contests, but they’ll have the luxury of trying to do so against less-than-stellar competition.
Since arriving in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh has preached that every game is a championship game, a logical approach in a sport where one or two losses can get in the way of an actual championship.
As quarterback Shea Patterson said Tuesday: «You’ve got to come ready to play or you’re going to get upset or beat. There’s talent everywhere.»
But several of his teammates have spoken since the SMU game about an elevated focus in advance of conference play.
«It’s always a goal of ours, coming in at the beginning of the year, is to win the Big Ten championship,» safety Tyree Kinnel said. «You’ve got to win that to move on to bigger goals that we have.»
