{"id":12614,"date":"2018-01-02T12:10:37","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T17:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=12614"},"modified":"2025-09-13T15:37:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T19:37:17","slug":"2018-outback-bowl-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2018\/01\/02\/2018-outback-bowl-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Football in Paradise: Outback Bowl Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year\u2019s Outback Bowl<\/strong> between the Michigan Wolverines<\/strong> and the South Carolina Gamecocks<\/strong> was destined to be chippy. Even before the game started, players from the two squads on Wednesday had to be physically separated at a bowling event<\/a><\/strong>. More than a few times officials stepped in between jarring players. In the second quarter, Michigan kicker Quinn Nordin<\/a> channeled his inner Baker Mayfield with some choice gestures to the South Carolina sideline<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Paradise or Purgatory? 2018 Outback Bowl Recap<\/h1>\n

Unfortunately for Michigan, the 2018 Outback Bowl was eerily similar to the dominate narrative throughout the regular season: despite strong defensive play, Michigan\u2019s offense was plagued by turnovers and sloppy plays. The Gamecocks capitalized on every opportunity that presented itself and took advantage of an over-worked Wolverines defense. Michigan was unable to maintain a 19-3 lead and lost 19-26. Jim Harbaugh<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s bowl record at the helm in Ann Arbor falls to 1-3.<\/p>\n

Failure to Launch<\/h2>\n

Michigan\u2019s Achilles\u2019 Heel in this game was turnovers. In total, the Wolverines turned the ball over a season high five times. Quarterback Brandon Peters<\/a><\/strong> accounted for three of the turnovers. Two interceptions, one of which was picked off in the endzone by South Carolina\u2019s JaMarcus King<\/strong>, and a fumble. Running back Karan Higdon<\/a><\/strong> added another fumble, also in the redzone, and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones<\/a><\/strong> muffed a punt. These turnovers led to 10 for South Carolina\u2019s 26 points.<\/p>\n

Peters\u2019 <\/strong>struggles were particularly perplexing. Coming into the game, his teammates told the media how Peters was carrying himself with a previously unseen swagge<\/a>r<\/strong>. That swagger was nowhere to be found after kickoff. \u00a0On top of the turnovers, he also struggled connecting with receivers, over- and under-throwing a number of receivers who were in positions to make a play. He was also sacked twice.<\/p>\n

However, to say the offensive woes all came from the quarterback would be a mischaracterization. On top of his muffed punt, Peoples-Jones dropped a huge pass, perfectly thrown, that would have netted a desperately needed Michigan first down. Instead, the Wolverines turned the ball over on downs. The Wolverines backfield also failed to produce. Michigan\u2019s running backs rushed for a mere 74 yards and one touchdown, half of their regular season average.<\/p>\n

Certainly, some of these struggles must be attributed to South Carolina\u2019s defense. On top of the turnovers and the sacks, the Gamecocks had four tackles for loss and seven pass deflections and allowed the Wolverines to convert on third down only twice. However, this offense looked nothing like Michigan fans or coaches hoped given the team’s previous success with Peters<\/strong> under center.<\/p>\n

Bright Spots<\/h2>\n

The two areas where Michigan played well were placekicking and defense. On the first front, Nordin<\/strong> was perfect on the day, scoring 12 of the Wolverines\u2019 19 points. He made field goals from 26, 35, 45, and 48 yards.<\/p>\n

Michigan\u2019s defense played tough for the majority of the game. They only allowed 61 rushing yards and two Gamecock third down conversions. They also gave South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley<\/a> <\/strong>real problems with three sacks, two quarterback hurries, and six pass deflections.<\/p>\n

The defense was led sophomore defensive back Khaleke Hudson<\/a><\/strong> who had ten tackles, one for a loss, one sack, and two pass deflections. Senior linebacker Mike McCray<\/a><\/strong> added seven more solo tackles, four of them for a loss. While linebacker Noah Furbush<\/a><\/strong> had likely the luckiest interception of his life<\/a><\/strong>. On a third and ten, Bentley threw a twenty yard pass that bounced off Hudson\u2019s helmet and right into Furbush\u2019s hands. Furbush turned around and gained 27 yards for Michigan\u2019s offense (who promptly fumbled the ball four plays later).<\/p>\n

South Carolina\u2019s offense must be credited for isolating consensus All-American defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr.<\/a><\/strong> He barely impacted the game, notching just one assisted tackle, one quarterback hurry, and pass deflection at the line. Much of the pressure on Bentley came from linebackers and defensive backs. Michigan\u2019s vaunted defensive line did not control the game, especially late in the game, as many predicted.<\/p>\n

The State of the Team<\/h2>\n

Three things became apparent after Michigan\u2019s loss to the Gamecocks. First, the turnaround many fans envisioned might be farther away than previously thought. In fact, some boosters and alumni are already grumbling that Harbaugh might not be the man for the job<\/a><\/strong>. A coaching change in Ann Arbor is highly unlikely (if for no other reason than a lack of high caliber candidates), but undeniably Harbaugh has a lot more work to do. Given the current state of Big Ten defenses, his offenses\u2019 performance today should be frightening. Turnover on the offensive staff seems almost inevitable.<\/p>\n

Second, the offense lacks true grit. The defense stood tall a number of times, stopping a two-point conversion attempt, and holding the Gamecocks to a field goal when they recovered Peoples-Jones\u2019 muffed punt. The offense, however, seemed to deflate at the first onset of adversity. The Wolverines\u2019 last five drives went: fumble, punt, interception, turnover on downs, and interception. They also scored a mere six points off the defense’s three takeaways. If Michigan has any hope of a trip to Indianapolis next year their offense must toughen up.<\/p>\n

Third, the quarterback position is open for competition. Many thought the announcement <\/a><\/strong>by Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson<\/a><\/strong> to transfer to Michigan would light a fire under Peters. Nothing that happened today suggests that Peters is in the pole position to take the starting job. The competition at Michigan\u2019s camp this off season should be lively.<\/p>\n

Trouble in Paradise?<\/h3>\n

As Michigan enters the off-season, there are more than those three questions to be addressed. As the Big Ten East<\/strong> makes its case as the toughest division in college football, Harbaugh and the Wolverines program will have to catch up to Ohio State<\/strong>, Penn State<\/strong>, and Michigan State<\/strong>. Can Michigan return to the promised land? Or are they stuck in purgatory?<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>