A bye week wasn’t enough to fix Michigan’s ailing offense.
Playing against an Illinois team wearing 1920s-themed uniforms in honor of Red Grange, Michigan’s offense looked like it was stuck in the 1920s as the Wolverines scored just once in a 21-7 loss in Champaign.
Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle continued to struggle. He completed 20 of 32 passing attempts for 208 yards, but 63 of those came in the game’s final minute after Illinois had secured victory. He had zero passing touchdowns and one interception.
The seven points are the fewest the Wolverines have scored in any game since a 31-0 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 6, 2014.
The Wolverines’ second straight loss marks the first time they’ve lost back-to-back games since 2020. Their two-touchdown loss at Illinois came despite having an extra week to prepare for the Fighting Illini after their 27-17 loss to Washington on Oct. 5.
Michigan is now just 4-3 on the season, with the third loss likely eliminating them from the College Football Playoff race. The Wolverines fell to 2-2 in Big Ten play, with the second conference loss likely eliminating them from the Big Ten championship race.
The road won’t get any easier for the defending national champions as the season progresses. After hosting Michigan State in their first rivalry game of the season next week, the Wolverines are set to three ranked opponents in November as they host Oregon on Nov. 2 before traveling to Indiana on Nov. 9 and Ohio State on Nov. 30, with their home finale against Northwestern in between (Nov. 23).
