COLLEGE FOOTBALL

End Zone: UM Wolverines

Time to find out if Michigan is championship worthy

10/24/2013

This is the time of the year that will separate the men from the boys.

This is the time of the year where we'll find out the truth about the Wolverines. Is this team truly Big Ten-championship worthy? Or is it only Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl worthy?

We should be so lucky to have a bye week to reflect upon these questions.

By this point in the season, many of us have made our opinions clear about the team. The overriding sentiment is that at 6-1, this team doesn't deserve to be ranked, that it should instead be at least 4-3. Connecticut and Akron didn't do Michigan many favors within the nonconference schedule.

UM faces the daunting part of its schedule: A five-game month in which it plays the nation's top defense in Michigan State (don't expect a 63-47 barnburner), Nebraska, Northwestern (a game two months ago that looked like it would determine the Legends Division), a trip to Iowa, and, of course, The Game against Ohio State.

Will the Wolverines be giving thanks at the end of November as they prepare for a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game?

Or will Brady Hoke again label the season "a failure" as his team prepares for a bowl game that doesn't start with the word "Rose"?

Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510, or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.