Michigan football can continue.

Despite Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s announcement that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services would issue an order halting high school and youth sports, among other COVID-19 mitigation measures, an exception was made for “professional and collegiate sports meeting extraordinary standards for risk mitigation.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, it seemed that things could get no more embarrassing for the Michigan football team. Wisconsin was up by 31 points, its fourth-string quarterback was in and the Badgers handed the ball to fullback John Chenal to bleed the clock.

Forty-three yards later, Gemon Green tackled him. And two plays after that, Wisconsin running back Jalen Berger ran 23 yards into the end zone all but untouched.

Hutchinson, a team captain and an NFL prospect, was one of the loudest voices in Michigan’s program advocating for a season to be played this year. For a defensive line that was already struggling, it’s hard to quantify what the loss will mean, and it might be exacerbated if Kwity Paye misses extended time.

After Saturday’s 38-21 loss, the Wolverines are staring down the possibility of a calamitous season. It is their second straight loss, both as favorites, both games in which Don Brown’s defense seemed overmatched and unequipped to deal with a better, faster offense. And it was evident from the jump.