John Henry Daley, Dom Nichols and Rod Moore are among six Wolverines listed as questionable for Saturday’s showdown in Ann Arbor.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan is preparing for one of its biggest games of the season, but the Wolverines could enter Saturday’s rivalry matchup against Michigan State without several important contributors.
The first Big Ten availability report, released Wednesday, November 4, lists six Michigan players as questionable and another six as out for Saturday’s game at Michigan Stadium.
Among the biggest concerns are defensive ends John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols, along with veteran safety Rod Moore.
Michigan enters the matchup at 5–3 overall, while Michigan State sits at 2–6.
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Michigan’s Defensive Front Faces Questions
Daley and Nichols both missed Michigan’s 28–21 victory over Rutgers last weekend.
Their potential absence against Michigan State could create additional challenges for the Wolverines’ defensive rotation.
Both players remain questionable, meaning neither has been officially ruled out.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham previously expressed optimism that Michigan could have Daley, Nichols and Moore available for the rivalry game.
However, the initial injury designations indicate that their status remains uncertain.
Michigan will also be monitoring safety Jordan Young, who is listed as questionable.
Six Wolverines Already Ruled Out
Michigan’s initial availability report lists the following players as out:
Kendrick Bell — Wide receiver
Braydon Alford — Wide receiver
Micah Ka’apana — Running back
Julius Holly — Defensive end
Ace Hamilton — Offensive line
Andrew Sprague — Offensive line
In addition to Daley, Nichols, Moore and Young, offensive lineman Brady Norton and tight end Hogan Hansen are questionable.
Center Jake Guarnera is listed as probable, providing a potentially encouraging development for Michigan’s offensive line.
The Wolverines’ depth will be tested as they attempt to secure their sixth victory of the season.
Michigan State Also Dealing With Injuries
The Spartans are facing significant availability concerns of their own.
Michigan State’s initial report lists 13 players as out, including quarterback Cam Fancher, running backs Cam Edwards and Jaziun Patterson, and linebacker Jordan Hall.
Several additional Spartans are questionable.
The injuries add another layer of uncertainty to a rivalry matchup featuring two programs trying to finish the season on a positive note.
Tommy Carr Prepares for Rivalry Debut as Starter
While Michigan’s injury situation remains unsettled, the Wolverines have established their direction at quarterback.
Tommy Carr is expected to make his third career start after helping Michigan defeat Rutgers.
Carr threw for 266 yards and a touchdown against the Scarlet Knights while adding 54 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
His development has provided Michigan with an offensive spark heading into rivalry week.
But Saturday’s game will present a different challenge.
Michigan State has had additional preparation time following its bye week, and the Spartans will be motivated to end Michigan’s four-game winning streak in the series.
MCSN Analysis: Michigan Cannot Overlook the Spartans
Michigan enters Saturday as the stronger team on paper.
The Wolverines have won four consecutive meetings against Michigan State and have an opportunity to secure bowl eligibility with another victory.
But injuries could influence how Michigan approaches the matchup, particularly along the defensive front.
If Daley and Nichols cannot play, Michigan will need other defenders to generate pressure and contain the Spartans’ rushing attack.
The MCSN Take: Michigan should win this game, but the Wolverines cannot afford to assume that Michigan State’s record tells the entire story.
Rivalry games create their own challenges, and Michigan’s injury situation deserves close attention.
The Wolverines have momentum following their victory over Rutgers. Now they must protect that momentum against an opponent that would love nothing more than to spoil their season.
Michigan has won four straight against Michigan State.
Saturday will determine whether that streak reaches five.