Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from big road win at Wisconsin

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Oct 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Cade McNamara earned the staff’s confidence

All season long, Michigan has been able to win games without throwing the ball a ton. The same rang true on Saturday afternoon as Cade McNamara didn’t need to do much through the air, but still finished with 197 yards on 17-of-28 completions with two touchdowns.

But even though he did throw the ball more against Wisconsin than he had in any game before this, there’s just a weird sense of “his job may not be safe” in the air.

McNamara didn’t make mistakes, was a solid game manager all afternoon and did enough to lead the Wolverines past the Badgers on the road. He wasn’t the reason the Wolverines won, but he was also not hindering the offense in any way. Yet Jim Harbaugh still ran JJ McCarthy out in the second half in some big situations and even on a fourth-and-goal from the Wisconsin 1-yard-line.

Does the staff trust McNamara to get the job done? What happens when he faces a team that will force Michigan to win in a shootout? Is he capable? We don’t know.

He did show that he can attempt more than 20 passes and look solid in the process.

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