Michigan football has mostly clean bill of health for MSU game
Story by
Michigan football has mostly clean bill of health for MSU game
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press·Detroit Free Press
·
2 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The initial availability report forMichigan football(5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) ahead of its rivalry matchup withMichigan State(2-6, 0-5) on Saturday, Nov. 7 (7:30 p.m., Peacock) is relatively mundane.
There were no major red flags for theWolverines, who have five starters listed as questionable and only one, tackle Andrew Sprague, scheduled to miss his seventh consecutive game, as the lone rotational player ruled out.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Safety Rod Moore, defensive ends John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols, guard Brady Norton and tight end Hogan Hansen were all listed as questionable, while center Jake Guarnera, who's been battling through a lower body injury all season, is listed as probable.
Michigan Wolverines tight end Eli Owens warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano talks with Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham before the game at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines defensive end Dominic Nichols warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Brady Norton arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines safety Rod Moore arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines cornerback Zeke Berry arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Peter Donini arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Logan Forbes arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
Michigan Wolverines punter Hudson Hollenbeck arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
1/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines tight end Eli Owens warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
1/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines tight end Eli Owens warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
2/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
3/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano talks with Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham before the game at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
4/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines defensive end Dominic Nichols warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
5/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
6/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Brady Norton arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
7/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines safety Rod Moore arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
8/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines cornerback Zeke Berry arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
9/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Peter Donini arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
10/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Logan Forbes arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
11/11
Michigan football looks for redemption on road against Rutgers
Michigan Wolverines punter Hudson Hollenbeck arrives at SHI Stadium before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Oct. 31, 2026, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES)
The most surprising name on the list is Hansen, who didn't appear to leave the 28-21 win over Rutgers last weekend with an injury at any point. He also met with media on Tuesday of this week and talked about his return to play after missing the first two weeks of the season.
Hansen was also banged up much of the 2025 campaign, playing in just three regular season games and the Citrus Bowl in an injury-shortened season.
"I wouldn't say it's too difficult in terms of like playing football," Hansen said of getting back into the mix. "I just think it's just a benefit to be able to stack weeks and not have to wait or be able to take a coaching point and apply it right away the next week and continuously get better that way."
Nichols has missed the past two weeks while Daley didn't play at Rutgers. Both warmed up prior to the game, but neither saw the field in the win. Earlier this week, coach Kyle Whittingham said he expects U-M to get both of its starting edge rushers back this week.
Moore, meanwhile, played just six snaps against Indiana and did not play against Rutgers. He missed all of 2024 after tearing his ACL that spring and was able to play just three games in 2025 as he dealt with complications from his rehab.
The sixth-year safety came up with a diving interception of Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht which helped spark a 21-18 comeback three weeks ago, but was later carted off the field that game with an apparent ankle injury.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Michigan has won four consecutive games against MSU and Moore is the only player who was on the roster the last time U-M lost to MSU, which came back in 2021. He's looking to end his career with a five-year winning streak in the battle for Paul Bunyan.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
