For the second week in a row, the Michigan offense couldn't get over 100 passing yards. Alex Orji started his second career game on Saturday

An underthrown pass down the middle of the field to a wide-open Colston Loveland was intercepted, giving the ball back to a desperate and hungry Golden Gophers team. Adding insult to injury, a closer, wide-open Donovan Edwards was open in the flat with open field in front of him.

Free Press sports writer Jared Ramsey answers three questions after No. 12 Michigan football beat Minnesota 27-24 in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

Orji made his first start in a huge game, a gotta-have-it game, a matchup between the No. 17 team in the country and the No. 11 team in USC. Michigan had already been embarrassed at home by Texas and the Trojans came in flying high, with predictions that they would wipe the floor with the maize and blue.

Alex Orji may have ran for more yards than he completed through the air, but Michigan’s quarterback was just happy to walk away victorious. The Wolverines’ new starter said he was given two directives ahead of his debut on Saturday,

Orji, who has thrown seven passes in his collegiate career, will make his first start on Saturday against USC.

Do we really know what kind of quarterback Alex Orji is? What about true freshman Jadyn Davis? Why hasn't the Wolverines given him a chance? We look at the Wolverines' receiving room and take a quick look into the Michigan offensive line.

On Wednesday, Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale — who may be on the other side of the ball, but had some strong feelings about the state of the offense — bristled at the notion that Orji and the offense can’t pass the ball if necessary. He pointed to the NFL and noted that not every team wins games by throwing it all over the place.

Sherrone Moore and Alex Orji both discussed how Michigan’s passing game can improve after throwing for 86 yards vs. Minnesota.