The Michigan Insider

Shea Patterson joins The Michigan Insider to analyze the football team's performance following recent losses. The discussion focuses on offensive struggles, the importance of pocket presence under pressure, and potential tactical adjustments during the bye week to improve situational play.

(0:00) Shea Patterson joins after Michigan's second straight loss
(2:41) Bryce's struggles under pressure and the first interception
(8:05) The final play and the protection breakdown on the second interception
(14:19) Rhino personnel and safeties crowding the box
(24:37) How Michigan can get its quarterback comfortable again
(31:42) Shea's own benching at Wisconsin and the bye-week outlook

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team’s 20-14 loss at Minnesota, and that the Wolverines’ second straight loss means for Michigan’s bye week and remaining seven games. 

They open with a look at the Wolverines’ offensive struggles, and how they came to a head in Minneapolis. They discuss the scheme issues, the run-game’s poor performance on all fronts so far, the statuses of offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterback Bryce Underwood, and what Michigan’s approach should be in the bye week. 

In the second half of the ep...

Michigan went to Minneapolis needing a response after its late collapse against Iowa. Instead, the Wolverines delivered an even more alarming sequel. In this week's Michigan Insider Postgame Recap, Sam Webb, Josh Newkirk and Alejandro Zuniga dissect Michigan's disappointing 20-14 loss to Minnesota — a game in which a 14-7 halftime lead unraveled amid three second-half turnovers, another costly special-teams mistake and an offense that again failed to find answers once momentum turned. The discussion digs into an offensive attack that still lacks a dependable identity, Michigan's continued struggles to establish a downhill running game, Bryce Underwood's regression after showing en...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz preview keys for the Michigan football team to beat Minnesota on the road, and predict how the game will unfold. 

They open with a look at Michigan’s offense, and how it can bounce back from its loss to Iowa. They break down the run game, drives that stalled in the red zone and the next step for the passing game against Minnesota’s defense. 

In the second half of the episode, they look at keys for the wolverines’ defense. They discuss penalties, handling  Minnesota’s short-range passing gam...

Michigan's margin for error is gone. After giving away a game it largely controlled against Iowa, the Wolverines head into their first road test against Minnesota needing to fix the self-inflicted mistakes before they derail the season. On this week's Michigan Football Breakdown, The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb, Al Borges and Ron English dissect the stunning 20-19 loss, from Bryce Underwood's best performance of the season and an improving offensive line to the breakdowns that erased that progress. Michigan piled up 429 yards to Iowa's 285, but eight penalties for 75 yards repeatedly put the offense behind the chains, a turnover and...

Michigan and Minnesota will play for the Little Brown Jug on Saturday, October 3, 2026, marking the 100th time the two programs have competed for the historic trophy.

The Golden Gophers have a quarterback with NFL upside, a defense that can create havoc, special teams that can win them games, and a coach who is willing to smear blood across his face. Do they have enough firepower to beat Michigan at home for the first time since 1977?

Ryan Burns of the Gopher Gazette on 247Sports joins the show to give us an inside look at PJ Fleck's...

Michigan let one get away against Iowa — and the frustrating part is Bryce Underwood may have taken his biggest step forward yet. In his second week as The Michigan Insider’s Monday Morning Quarterback, former Michigan QB Shea Patterson joins Sam Webb to break down the Wolverines’ stunning 20-19 loss and the mistakes that turned a winnable game into a painful defeat. Patterson details Underwood’s improved footwork, pocket presence and growing command of the offense, plus why Michigan’s game plan finally appeared to fully tap into its young quarterback’s strengths. But the progress was overshadowed by eight penalt...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down what went wrong for the Michigan football team in its last-second, 20-19 loss to Iowa, and what it means for the Wolverines moving forward.

They open with a look at Michigan's disastrous fourth quarter, including its 3-and-out with a chance to close out the game and allowing Iowa to go on a 91-yard drive to win the game. They discuss the series of events that led to the unlikely loss for the Wolverines, and debate what percentage of the loss is Michigan's mistakes, vs. the Hawkeyes' execution...

Michigan had been flirting with disaster for weeks. Against Iowa, it finally caught up with the Wolverines. In the latest Michigan Insider Postgame Recap, Sam Webb Josh Newkirk dissect a gut-wrenching 20-19 loss in which penalties, missed opportunities, and an inability to finish overwhelmed some of Michigan's most encouraging football of the season. Bryce Underwood delivered arguably his best performance yet; the offensive line moved Iowa's highly regarded defense for much of the game — but eight penalties, a costly special-teams breakdown, and squandered chances kept the Hawkeyes alive. Then Michigan failed to put the game away late and watched it...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team's upcoming matchup against Iowa, as both teams open Big Ten play, and discuss the keys for the Wolverines in the contest.

The begin with a look at Michigan's offense, and how the Wolverines can shake the Hawkeyes' defense loose and put players in conflict. They also look at Bryce Underwood's next step, offensive players who need to step up, what needs to work in the run game and more.

In the second half of the episode, they look at Michigan's defensive...

Michigan football enjoyed a comfortable win over UTEP to close its non-conference slate with an unblemished record, but as Kyle Whittingham acknowledged, "the gauntlet starts this week." 

The Wolverines host 17th-ranked Iowa on Saturday at the Big House on Saturday as Big Ten play begins. Kickoff is set for 3:36 p.m. ET, and the game will air nationally on CBS. 

The Hawkeyes are making their first trip to the Big House since 2019 and just their third since 2012. They're seeking their first conference road victory over a ranked opponent since 2015. David Eickholt of The Hawkeye Insider on...

Michigan made progress against UTEP. Now the Wolverines have to prove it against Big Ten competition. On this week’s Michigan Football Breakdown, former Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges and former defensive coordinator Ron English join The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb to dissect the Wolverines’ 52-17 win and identify what improved — and what still must get better — before No. 17 Iowa comes to Michigan Stadium. Offensively, the coaches dive into Bryce Underwood’s growth, Michigan’s expanded RPO attack, improved pass protection and Andrew Marsh’s increased involvement. Borges explains why the offensive line performed better than people think, but also why bet...

A new quarterback takes the MMQB chair as former Michigan signal-caller Shea Patterson joins The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb for his debut episode to break down Bryce Underwood's continued growth in Michigan's 52-17 win over UTEP. Patterson goes inside the details of Underwood's encouraging performance and then the focus shifts to No. 17 Iowa and the start of Big Ten play, as Patterson explains how Underwood can attack the Hawkeyes' disciplined defense, why stressing their safeties could unlock Michigan's play-action game, and where the Wolverines may find opportunities to finally make defenses pay for crowding the line of scrimmage. It's...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team's 52-17 win over UTEP, and take stock of the Wolverines and their College Football Playoff hopes after three non-conference games.

They open with a look at Michigan's offense. They discuss the passing game's success, the Wolverines' ability to get other wide receivers involved and the latest step forward for Bryce Underwood. They then look at areas the offense struggled, including two first-half fumbles, a lack of push between the tackles and what some of the biggest surprises on offense have been so far.<...

Michigan shook off a sloppy start and eventually delivered the domination expected in a 52-17 win over UTEP, but what did the performance reveal about the Wolverines heading into Big Ten play? The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk break down Bryce Underwood’s encouraging step forward as Michigan put more on his plate with RPOs and dropback passing, plus the emergence of Andrew Marsh and J.J. Buchanan as a dangerous receiving tandem. They also examine the continued ball-security concerns, a reshuffled offensive line, and a running game that finally found its footing after halftime. On the...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team's matchup with UTEP, and focus on what the Wolverines will want to show in their final non-conference tune-up before Big Ten play begins.

They open with a look at Michigan's offense, and weigh the importance of improving its run game or pass game in a matchup where both will likely find success. They then turn attention to which players should receive extended runway in this game, be it to find a rhythm, gain collegiate experience or iron out depth.

In the...

Michigan welcomes the UTEP Miners to the Big House for the first-ever meeting of the two programs. The Wolverines are Miners are on opposite sides of the FBS spectrum: One has more wins than any other program in college football, while the other has just two conference titles in more than 110 seasons of play.

Bret Bloomquist of the El Paso Times has covered the UTEP Miners for two decades. He joins the show to give us the inside scoop of what to expect from Scotty Walden's team at Michigan Stadium this weekend.

Brice and Steve preview the visitors coming in for the Oklahoma game.

(1:10) – 5-Star OT Antoine Wilks & Michigan’s Chances
(4:29) – NIL’s Impact on the Antoine Wilks Recruitment
(7:03) – 5-Star CB Nasir Richardson Visits Michigan
(9:25) – Why the Oklahoma Game Matters for Michigan Recruiting
(12:03) – Should Michigan Host Top Recruits for a High-Stakes Game?
(16:12) – DeAndre Bidden: A Must-Land Michigan WR Target?
(23:06) – Is Bidden Michigan’s Most Important 2028 Recruit?
(25:37) – DT Aiden Havili & Michigan’s West Coast Recruiting Push
(29:50) – LaMarcus Army & Michigan’s Strong Position
(39:10) – More Top Michigan Recruiting Visitors
(48:12) – Closing

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team's win over No. 11 Oklahoma. In the episode, they look at what the Wolverines did on both sides of the ball to pull off the upset win, and what it means for Michigan moving forward.

In the first half of the episode, they look at Michigan's offense, and what changed from a week ago to yield better results. They discuss the Wolverines' gritty yet creative ground game, Bryce Underwood's dual-threat usage, Underwood's improved steadiness and other factors, as well as what the progress means...

The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk break down Michigan's resurgent performance in its 17-10 victory, led by an imposing performance by the defense, and a bounce back showing by Bryce Underwood and the offense.

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz preview the Michigan football team's Saturday clash with No. 10 Oklahoma, offering their keys for the Wolverines and predictions for the matchup.

They open with a look at what must change for Michigan's offense. They discuss the needed improvement on the offensive line, and urgency to get the Wolverines' run game more involved. They also discuss Bryce Underwood, the pressure he's facing, and how he and Michigan should handle it. Along the way, they discuss the Sooners' star-studded front seven, experienced back-seven and the important factors for Michigan in this...

Michigan faces its toughest test of the non-conference season as the Wolverines host the Oklahoma Sooners for a noon kickoff at the Big House on Saturday, Sept. 12.

A week after scuffling to near-disaster against Western Michigan, U-M will be challenged by one of the nation's top defensive minds and a unit that returns seven starters. And on the other side of the ball, John Mateer is healthy and eager to showcase his growth since a shaky 2025 season in an offense that utilizes tight ends a lot more than your traditional Air Raid.

Tom Green, who...

In this week's episode, Al Borges returns to the breakdown series, and we welcome former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English to the team (Vance Bedford will still make occasional guest appearances this season). The crew tackles a surprising opener in which Michigan survived Western Michigan with a controversial, last-second Hail Mary, but the Wolverines left their opener with far more questions than answers—and little time to find them before a massive showdown with Oklahoma. On this week’s Michigan Football Breakdown, The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb joins former Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges and former defensive coordinator Ron En...

The Michigan Insider’s Monday Morning Quarterback is back, with Sam Webb and Michigan legend Denard Robinson putting Bryce Underwood’s underwhelming performance against Western Michigan under the microscope following the Wolverines’ dramatic, controversial last-second Hail Mary victory. Robinson breaks down why Underwood struggled after he opening drive, highlighting issues with his footwork, pocket presence, pre-snap recognition, eye discipline, and tendency to predetermine throws — mistakes that could prove far more costly against Oklahoma. The former Michigan quarterback also details how the Wolverines can help Underwood find his rhythm, from giving him more quarterback runs and RPO opportunities to building a packag...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz recap the Michigan football team’s 13-12 win over Western Michigan. 

The two begin their discussion by looking into Michigan’s Hail Mary victory, which included two chances at the win thanks to the officials putting one second back on the block. They then turn their attention to the Wolverines' offense, which had eight dreadful drives between its two scoring drives. They look at what can be done to yield better results from Bryce Underwood, Michigan's offensive line and a sloppy team performance overall.

In the second half...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their annual preseason tradition with their 2026 Michigan football predictions special. In the episode, they break down predictions for Michigan both on an individual and team level.

Among the predictions include:

-Leading passer 

-Leading rusher

-Leading receiver

-Best offensive lineman

-Leading tackler

-Leader in sacks

-Leader in interceptions

-Offensive and defensive MVP

-Offensive and defensive Most-Improved

-Offensive and defensive freshman of the year 

-Offensive and defensive transfer of...

Welcome back to another season of Michigan football and another season of Behind Enemy Lines! We welcome Andrew Graham of Mitten Football to break down all things Western Michigan. The Broncos return key offensive pieces from last year's MAC-winning team, but there are injury issues on the offensive line and significant questions in the defensive front seven.

Plus, we check in on a trio of former Wolverines who could see playing time with WMU on Saturday night at the Big House.

In an exclusive, wide-ranging conversation with The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel opens up about his decision to step down after more than a decade leading the athletic department, explaining why he came to believe the timing was right both for himself and for the university. Manuel reflects candidly on a tenure he says he leaves with his “head held high,” pointing to an unprecedented stretch of championship success, record-setting academic achievement, major facility investments and the growth of one of the largest athletic departments in the country, while also acknowledging the difficult decisions, controversies and...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz conclude their 10-part position group preview series, looking at what to expect from the Michigan football team's special teams unit in the 2026 season.

They open with a look at the strengths of the room, including on-paper consistency, an upgrade in coaching and punting and the value of transfer portal. They then turn to discuss the biggest question marks facing the room, particularly at the new coaching philosophy and decisions looming in the return game.

In the second half of the episode, they look at X-factors for the...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their position group preview series by looking at what the Michigan football team's defensive backfield has in store for the 2026 season.

They open the episode with a look at the strengths of the room, including several seasoned veterans, experience at all positions and and athletic secondary across the board. They then turn to the biggest question marks facing the room, including Rod Moore's return to game action and the depth of the room.

In the second half of the episode, they break down their X-factor players...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their position group preview series by looking at the Michigan football team's linebacker room.

They open with a look at the strengths and question marks of the room, as they try to make sense of a position group that lost its top four players from last season, and did not add a true sure-thing player though the transfer portal this offseason. Nonetheless, they examine the top four linebackers in the room, and what they can bring in 2026.

In the second half of the episode, they look...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their annual position group preview series with a look at the Michigan football team’s edge room. 

They open with a discussion of the room’s biggest strengths, including a potential All-American and one of the higher-ceiling rooms on the team. They then look at question marks for the group, including the battle for the No. 4 spot in the rotation and the Wolverines’ effort to turn developmental prospects into stars. 

In the second half of the episode, they look at X-factors for the room, the group’s floor an...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their 10-part position preview podcast by looking at Michigan’s defensive tackle room ahead of the 2026 season. 

They open with a look at the strengths of the room, including size, upside, experience and run-stopping ability. They then turn to the question marks of the room, including the battle for the second-string roles, pass-rushing production and more.

In the second half of the episode, they take a look at X-factors for the room, including a potential star and an under-the-radar transfer portal addition. They then discuss the flo...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz finish up the offensive half of their annual position group preview series, taking a look at what to expect from the Wolverines' offensive line in 2026.

They open with a look at the strengths of the room, discussing the depth, talent level and even experience of the line after keeping so many players from last season as well as the Jim Harding. They then turn to the questions marks of the room, discussing how they think the starting five will shake out, the room's need to improve its pass-protection and...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their annual position group preview series with an in-depth look at Michigan's tight end room. The episode is the fourth installment of a series digging deeper into each of the Wolverines' position groups ahead of the 2026 season.

They open with a look at the strengths and question marks of the room. They talk about the room's experience, the breakout potential among the top-line players, the perceived lack of star power and uncertainty about the usage the room will have in Michigan's new offense.

In the second...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz continue their annual position group preview series with an in-depth look at the Wolverines' wide receiver room. The episode is the third of 11 in the series.

They open with a look at the strengths of the room, including revamped talent, improved hands and a room more prepared for the season ahead than the prior two seasons. They discuss Michigan's dynamic receiver duo at the top of Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan. They then dive into the question marks of the room, including the battle for the No. 3 wide receiver.<...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz preview what to expect in the 2026 season from Michigan's running back room. The episode is the second in 11 episodes looking at the Wolverines at each position group.

They open with a look at the room's strengths, as they examine what Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter and Bryson Kuzdzal do well as a running back trio. They then discuss the central question of the room, which for both of them centers around just how good Hiter can be as a true freshman.

In the second half of the episode...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz preview the Michigan football team's quarterback room for the 2026 season. The episode is part of their 11-part position preview series, looking at the Wolverines' season ahead.

They open with a discussion about the strengths that Bryce Underwood and the rest of the room bring, as well as the biggest question marks the room faces this season. In the second half of the episode, they look at an X-factor player for the room, discuss the group's floor and ceiling and how they will measure success from the room in 2026.

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down their annual ranking of Michigan football's most important players for the upcoming season, then discuss the biggest position battles and potential breakouts in fall camp.

They open with a look back at their annual rankings of the Wolverines' most important players. They discuss the top group being solidified, which players may have been ranked too low, and which players outside the top 25 could end up being more important than expected.

In the second half of the episode, they discuss which position battles they'll be watching...

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the top newcomers for Michigan football ahead of the 2026 season, discussing the Wolverines’ key transfers and early-impact freshmen.

They open with a look at Michigan's transfer portal class, which includes more than half a dozen projected starters for the Wolverines this fall. They discuss the top-line guys, such as John Henry Daley and JJ Buchanan, underrated impact players like Chris Bracy, Jonah Lea'ea and Trey Butkowski, and sleeper adds like Jaime Ffrench.

In the second half of the episode, they try to assess where the fre...