Despite a 6-0 record, the jury is still out on Michigan. Washington was not the major non-conference clash it was expected to be, Wisconsin is on the downswing right as it prepares to trade Michigan for Ohio State in the cross-division schedule, and Nebraska is improving but is still Nebraska. Given the Wolverines’ recent history, there is no surprise that many remain skeptical across the nation.
Most of those uncertainties will not be resolved this weekend. Michigan hosts a mediocre Northwestern team that ranks just 77th per S&P+, one spot better than Week 1 victim Western Michigan.