I was expecting Michigan would win it but I had a tiny sliver of hope that the Gophers under the lights in front of a sellout crowd would put up a fight and get an upset.
And then the very first play happens and it's a pick six. To be honest I didn't bother to keep watching the second half of the game, figured it would get ugly and it did.
So, two things can be true. One, Minnesota played likely the best team they will face this year. Michigan looks fantastic and I think this is the year they win the CFP. Two, despite playing one of the top teams in the country, the Gophers looked really rough out there.
Athan's play is concerning, the offense overall has issues and the defense doesn't inspire much confidence. It's not a terrible team, they've done enough to win three and there's potential for more, but the losses have shown this is certainly a step back type year.
A positive is there's still half a season left to go. There are two trophies up for grabs and winnable games on the schedule. Use the bye-week to regroup, get a few more wins, hopefully against rivals and go to a bowl.
As for where the team goes from here after this season. I think Fleck is still the right person at this time, same with Rossi. It's been rough but I think their resumes give them enough leeway. On the offensive side, I think something new will have to happen with OC. Depending on how the rest of the year goes, keep an eye out for a QB in the transfer portal, too.