Michigan Wolverines Ground Game Rolls Over Central Michigan

The Bryce Underwood “Batman” Michigan performance headlined the Wolverines’ 63–3 rout of Central, with dominance on both sides of the ball.

Poggi Returns to Steer the Ship

Today was a throwback for Biff Poggi. He is the longtime Harbaugh confidant and former Michigan assistant who recently returned after a stint as Charlotte’s head coach. With Sherrone Moore suspended for two games, Poggi was tapped to lead the Wolverines on game day. His familiar presence kept the sideline steady, and Michigan’s execution suggested the transition was seamless.

Poggi’s postgame remarks on the Big Ten Network struck the balance between humor and confidence. “Bryce Underwood was Batman,” he said, referring to the Wolverines’ starting quarterback. “He has a Batman mask somewhere.” The moment drew laughs, but it also underscored how quickly the true freshman quarterback has captured the program’s imagination.

Bryce Underwood, Batman, Michigan Performance Headlines 63–3 Win

Underwood continues to grow into the centerpiece of Michigan’s offense. Against Central Michigan, he turned in his sharpest outing yet: 16-of-25 for 235 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His highlight was a 32-yard strike to Semaj Morgan, a perfectly timed throw that showed his poise. Just as important, he added 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yard sprint that drew roars from the Big House crowd.

The numbers reflected control. Michigan averaged 9.4 yards per pass attempt, nearly tripling Central Michigan’s 3.0, and converted 8 of 11 third downs. Underwood spread the ball to seven receivers, avoided negative plays, and complemented a rushing attack that did the heavy lifting.

Michigan fans know that dual-threat quarterbacks have shaped the program’s history before. From Denard Robinson’s electrifying runs, to Devin Gardner’s improvisation, to JJ McCarthy’s balance of arm and legs, the Wolverines have thrived when the quarterback can change the game in multiple ways. Underwood looks like the next in that lineage, only doing so as a true freshman. Poggi’s “Batman” line felt less like a joke and more like a recognition of that emerging tradition.

Wolverines’ Batman Performance Fuels Offensive Explosion

The offense leaned on the run game, but the Bryce Underwood Batman Michigan storyline gave the win its spark. For all the talk of Underwood, Michigan’s ground game was the true hammer. The Wolverines rushed 55 times for 381 yards, averaging nearly seven yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns.

Justice Haynes powered his way to 104 yards and a score, while Jordan Marshall and Jasper Parker each added two touchdowns. Underwood’s legs were as impactful as his arm, and late in the game, Andrew Marsh broke free for a 23-yard touchdown to cap the blowout.

The contrast was glaring. Michigan averaged 6.9 yards per rush; Central Michigan managed only 2.4. That disparity wasn’t just about athletes — it was about physical dominance at the line of scrimmage.

Defense Complements Bryce Underwood’s Batman Michigan Showcase

The Wolverines’ defense turned the game into a clinic. Central Michigan finished with just 139 total yards and eight first downs, a stark reminder of the gulf between the MAC and a Big Ten contender. Quarterback Angel Flores accounted for most of the Chippewas’ offense, scrambling for 76 yards, but the passing game produced just 60 yards on 20 attempts.

Linebacker Jaishawn Barham continued his breakout campaign with six solo tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Jimmy Rolder and Cole Sullivan anchored the middle, while TJ Metcalf added a sack from the secondary. Elijah Dotson’s interception shut down CMU’s best scoring chance.

The situational numbers reinforced the dominance: Michigan held CMU to 6-of-15 on third down, stuffed both fourth-down attempts, and forced two turnovers. The Wolverines controlled possession for over 33 minutes, leaving the Chippewas little oxygen to mount momentum.

Central Michigan Outmatched in Every Phase

For Central Michigan, the numbers painted a painful picture. Michigan outgained them 616 to 139, rolled up 35 first downs to CMU’s 8, and doubled them in time of possession. The Chippewas committed only one penalty, but it hardly mattered; every attempt to sustain a drive was smothered.

Receiver Justin Ruffin Jr. led the team with just 23 yards, and no runner outside Flores gained more than 16. Their lone points came on a 22-yard field goal from Cade Graham, a drive extended more by Michigan miscues than CMU execution.

Against a deeper, more physical roster, the Chippewas never had a chance to control tempo or dictate terms.

Looking Ahead: Batman and the Big Ten

Michigan’s rout of Central Michigan wasn’t just about padding the win column. It was about reaffirming the Wolverines’ foundation under interim leadership, and about showcasing a freshman quarterback who looks ahead of schedule.

Poggi’s leadership mattered today, but the program now will welcome Moore back to the sideline with momentum intact. The message is clear: Michigan can win with depth, physicality, and a quarterback who can tilt the field in multiple ways.

Poggi’s words about Underwood may have been lighthearted, but they framed the day perfectly. In Ann Arbor, Michigan’s freshman quarterback is quickly growing into the needed role for the Wolverines’ story. Going into Big Ten play, the Wolverines know their foundation is physicality, and Underwood’s performance showed they have their leader.