Michigan football is heading into Big Ten play without two massive pieces of their offensive line, and that’s a gut punch right before a huge matchup. Starting right tackle Andrew Sprague and the vital “Rhino” offensive lineman Manuel Biegel are officially out for the Big Ten opener against No. 17 Iowa. This isn’t small potatoes, folks, not when you’re facing another top-20 team early in the season.
The Right Tackle Roulette: Sprague’s Absence Is A Big Deal
Sprague’s absence is a huge blow. This guy was a full-time starter last year, getting the nod in 12 out of 13 games in 2025. He absolutely dominated the first two games this season, playing all 115 offensive snaps. Early in fall camp, they said the right tackle spot was “his to lose,” and he clearly earned it. When he was a late scratch last week, Michigan had to totally reshuffle their line, bumping Blake Frazier out to right tackle and sliding Evan Link to left tackle. Nate Efobi, Jake Guarnera, and Brady Norton then held down the interior.
You know it’s serious when Coach Whittingham talks about a timeline that could be “anywhere from this week to several weeks,” admitting they just don’t know the exact diagnosis. That kind of uncertainty is brutal for a team relying on consistency, especially up front. Sprague is a “big part of what we’re doing,” Whittingham said, and you can bet they want him back sooner rather than later. The fact they’re still trying to “sort through” it with the medical staff doesn’t exactly inspire confidence for a quick return.
The Rhino’s Missing “Knockback” Against Iowa
And then there’s Manuel Biegel, the “Rhino.” This isn’t just a fancy nickname, it’s a key role, and Biegel has been crushing it. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck specifically called out Biegel’s “physicality and the knockback in the run game” as a huge positive. He’s been consistently on the field, playing 84 snaps over the last three weeks, including 29 in each of the past two. Beck even praised his transition from defensive line in the spring, saying Biegel is “one of the better things we have going on.” That’s a massive endorsement!
Losing that specific kind of power and run-blocking prowess against an Iowa team that prides itself on being tough as nails? That’s going to sting. While Avery Gach is expected to step in as the “Rhino,” replacing a guy who Beck called a “real positive with getting the job done” won’t be easy. The “Rhino” formation, as Beck described, has “no too many tradeoffs” and is used in protection too, so Biegel’s impact is felt across the board. The good news is they’re not completely depleted on defense, with edge Dom Nichols and defensive back Zeke Berry, both starters, cleared to play after being listed as questionable.
So, here we are. It’s No. 18 Michigan against No. 17 Iowa, a huge Big Ten opener on CBS at 3:30 p.m. Can they out-Iowa the Hawkeyes with a shuffled offensive line and a key enforcer out? This game is going to tell us a lot about Michigan’s depth and resilience right out of the gate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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