The temperature reached 70 degrees on Halloween Thursday in Ann Arbor.

But while outside may still feel like the beginning of the season for the time being, the cold snap of November is just around the corner. And the schedule for Michigan football (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) will provide a stern reality check on where this program stands.

The Wolverines head into the final month of their season with an unfamiliar feeling. In 2023, a top-10 road game vs. Penn State awaited, then a test vs. a sneaky good Maryland team and the regular season finale: a top-5 clash vs. Ohio State to determine the Big Ten East Division representative in the conference title game.

None of those things are happening this year. There are still three tough games against teams currently ranked in the top 15, but with three losses already on the ledger, much of the story has been written.

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Even if U-M somehow won out (vs. No. 1 Oregon on Saturday, at unbeaten No. 13 Indiana a week later, vs. Northwestern, at the Buckeyes two days after Thanksgiving) for a 9-3 finish, it would be on the outside looking in at the Big Ten Title game, and likely miss the College Football Playoff.

Yes, 2024 is different from 2023, 2022 and 2021 to be sure, however when asked how he will balance priorities and playing time moving forward this year — preparing for the future vs. maximizing the present — head coach Sherrone Moore didn’t hesitate.

“Winning. That’s it,” he said Monday. “Win, win, win, win. That’s it.”

The task begins Saturday at the Big House against head coach Dan Lanning, quarterback Dillion Gabriel and No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten). However, even knowing that tough task was on the horizon, the tone was unusual Monday in Schembechler Hall.

Moore was asked about his team’s role reversal: How last year, other teams were giving them their best shot to derail Michigan's march for a championship, while in this closing month, it will be the Wolverines trying to “wreck people's seasons” to borrow a line from tight end Colston Loveland after the Illinois loss.

A much-needed 24-17 rivalry win over Michigan State last week doesn't change the fact U-M is unranked entering November for the first time since it finished 2-4 in COVID-19-shortened 2020.

That hasn't changed the mentality from the leaders inside the locker room, like recently promoted captain, senior defensive end Josaiah Stewart.

"Last year, we had a crazy November stretch," he said Tuesday. "Nobody remembers October, they remember November. Just got to go out and show out every week, every game is important from this point on."

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The Wolverines hope to have now found their winning formula on offense. After seventh-year quarterback Jack Tuttle retired earlier this week, few questions remain. The plan is to use the combination of Davis Warren and Alex Orji like last week.

Warren completed 13 of 19 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, Orji ran six times for 64 yards and a score, and neither committed a turnover. For the first time all year, U-M was not flagged for a penalty, and the offensive line didn't allow a quarterback sack for the first time.

Offensive line coach Grant Newsome said he challenged guard Gio El Hadi to be more physical, and El Hadi had the best game of the season. Left tackle Myles Hinton was back, and senior Greg Crippen has finally taken hold of the center position battle.

It's no coincidence as that group has rounded into form, so too did U-M's offense — for one night.

“He’s a football junkie,” Newsome said of Crippen on Wednesday. “He’s actually upstairs right now watching tape. He loves it, and he cares. A lot of guys care, think they love football. It’s different to really, really love it at that level and being willing to invest the way he has.

“I think that’s a credit to him and his mindset, but also to the guys he’s had ahead of him. He’s got to see what two NFL centers look like and how much they study. Even his freshman year when (Andrew Vastardis) was here. You saw how much Vastardis put into this, physically, mentally, and understood what it takes to be able to compete.”

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Even frequently maligned groups like the wide receivers came up with a big week to end October.

Two of Semaj Morgan's three catches vs Michigan State moved the sticks on third down. So too did Kendrick Bell's only grab of the night. Payton O'Leary's first catch since the nonconference portion picked up 15 yards, and Tyler Morris caught a 23-yard flea flicker.

"It was spread around really good," Moore said of the passing attack. "Everybody's doing their job. Don't try to be superman, just do your job."

Recent evidence suggests some pieces are rounding into form, but with little track record and a daunting schedule, it's understandable if supporters are leery of buying back in. Plus, the tough schedule looms.

"They've got good players, play great team defense," Moore said of Oregon. "Coach Lanning has done a great job with scheme and their DC has done a great job, so it's going to be a challenge. We have to go prepare and prepare to win."

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football's November goal has changed in 2024