What National Media Are Saying About Michigan Football After Week 2

Michigan is off to a 2-0 start to the young, 2023 season. Find out what some prominent media is saying about the Wolverines.

After a 35-7 defeat of UNLV on Saturday, Michigan is off to a 2-0 record on the young season. J.J. McCarthy continued to shine and is now the most accurate passer in the country after Week 2. McCarthy is completing a staggering 87.3% of his passes and he has thrown for 558 yards and five scores.

His top target, Roman Wilson, is tied for second in the country with five touchdown receptions. He has caught for 167 yards and is averaging is 16 yards per reception in 2023. 

After the Week 2 defeat of the Rebels, some national columnists are talking about Michigan. Here is what's being said about the Wolverines.

ESPN says there is a three-team race in the Big Ten East: 

I'm not going to pretend I'm actually worried about either Michigan or Ohio State just yet. In four games against relative cupcakes (East Carolina and UNLV for Michigan, Indiana and Youngstown State for the Buckeyes), these highly ranked rivals have outscored their opponents by an average of 31-5. Neither has won a game by fewer than 20 points, and they still rank second (OSU) and third (UM) in SP+.

Granted, the 31-point scoring average isn't very much for teams that averaged 51.5 points per game in nonconference play last year. And granted, they've underachieved against SP+ projections in all four games, by an average of 12 points per game. The Michigan offense ranks a shocking 76th in rushing success rate, and the Ohio State offense ranks an even more shocking 114th in third-down conversion rate (7-for-23). These are not problems we tend to see from the Wolverines and Buckeyes, even if we won't officially know they're problems until either plays in a close game.

......As with Michigan and Ohio State, the Nittany Lions have faced only partial tests. But PSU has overachieved in the same way the Wolverines and Buckeyes have underachieved, and it's up to fourth in SP+. The battle for the division and conference titles -- and, in theory, one or two CFP bids -- is getting quite a bit more interesting.

ESPN draft expert Matt Miller says J.J. McCarthy is rising on draft boards ($):

McCarthy was expected to have a very good stat line against UNLV, and he lived up to those expectations. He started the day 11-of-11, including one particularly awesome throw between Cover 2 defenders up the seam to Cornelius Johnson. A scout for an AFC team who was watching the game texted me that McCarthy is "a better moving Kirk Cousins," a compliment to his efficient and accurate style of play. McCarthy carves up defenses with touch and timing, and he did so Saturday with 22-of-25 passing for 278 yards, two touchdowns and an QBR of 96.1. He stacks up as a late first-rounder on my board and is climbing in the race for QB3 behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.

CBS Sports gives Michigan an A+ grade for its performance against UNLV:

Michigan played "Michigan football" in the 35-7 win over UNLV. Running back Blake Corum rushed for three touchdowns and the defense didn't allow a score until garbage time in the 35-7 win in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It wasn't pretty to outsiders, but it was perfect for the Michigan fan base.

PFF awarded Mason Graham the defensive player of the week:

Graham was dominant as a run defender against UNLV, with a tackle resulting in a defensive stop on three of his 11 snaps against the run. He added a quarterback hurry, taking him to five total pressures through two weeks.