Michigan faces backlash after 15-6 home loss to Michigan State as Oregon trip looms

Michigan went into Saturday as the clear favorite in the rivalry game. It left the Big House with a 15-6 loss to Michigan State, and the reaction was quick and harsh. Wolverines Wire, in a roundup republished by Yahoo Sports, collected posts on X from national commentators and a long list of former Wolverines. They included Braylon Edwards, Charles Woodson, Taylor Lewan and Channing Stribling, alongside writers and hosts such as Stewart Mandel, Josh Pate and John U. Bacon.

The loss puts Michigan at 5-4 and puts more pressure on Kyle Whittingham's program. The same outlet's coverage said Whittingham took responsibility for the defeat afterward. The setting made it worse. Michigan State came to Ann Arbor at 2-6, having lost six straight, and Pat Fitzgerald's team won with Nick Sheridan running its offense. Sheridan is a former Michigan quarterback who is now the Spartans' offensive coordinator.

The numbers explain much of the anger. Michigan has scored 6 points in two of its last three games: the 13-6 home loss to No. 6 Indiana and now this one. Across its four losses, the offense has scored 45 points, about 11 per game. The defense has held up. Michigan has allowed 146 points all season, about 16 per game, and none of its four losses has been by more than nine points. Losses of 20-19 to No. 17 Iowa and 20-14 at Minnesota came the same way: the defense kept it close and the offense couldn't put the game away. Michigan has gone 2-4 since a 4-0 start that included a 17-10 win over No. 11 Oklahoma.

For Michigan State, the win over its rival was its first since back-to-back victories over Toledo and Eastern Michigan to open the season. It moves the Spartans to 3-6 ahead of a home game against Washington on Nov. 14.

What it means at Oregon

Michigan doesn't get an easy game to recover. Next up is a trip to No. 23 Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 14, on FS1. It is the Wolverines' third road game of the season. They split the first two, losing at Minnesota and winning 28-21 at Rutgers.

The board has Oregon as a solid favorite. Novig lists the Ducks at -365 on the moneyline, and the best price across the five venues is Kalshi's -360, so the venues are close on the favorite. They are further apart on Michigan. Novig has the Wolverines at +270, while FanDuel's +320 is the best number anywhere, a 50-cent gap on the underdog.

Oregon is favored by 9.5 points, with DraftKings offering -110 at that number. FanDuel has Michigan +10.5 at -112. The total is 41.5 at both FanDuel and DraftKings. That's a low number, and it matches Michigan's season: the Wolverines haven't scored more than 28 points against a Power Four opponent this year. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline is between 4.2% and 4.4%.

In practice, Michigan has to score more than it has against any good defense this season. The defense has kept nearly every game within one score. If the offense looks like it did on Saturday, though, a close game in Eugene probably won't be enough to end the criticism.