It was another huge day on the ground for the Wolverines against Penn State with 418 rushing yards! The run game was able to take over and control the game for Michigan when things got tough and secured a 41-17 victory.
Michigan started off the game strong but a busted play and a pick 6 had the wolverines finding themselves down by one in the second quarter even though they dominated the half statistically. Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards put the team on their backs and dominated the rest of the way. Edwards finished with a career high of 173 rushing yards on 16 attempts. Corum racked up 166 rushing yards on 28 carries. Each of them had their own 60+ yard TD run as well. Penn State had the 5th best rush defense in the nation going into the game which says a lot about Michigan's offensive line and their runningbacks.
A lot of people questioned if Michigan would be able to win big games by running the ball again this year but I think those questions can be laid to rest. Michigan showed dominance and control of the game with the run.
We saw JJ McCarthy struggle a little bit, but I don't think there is any cause for concern there. I think he will be able to watch the film and learn from a couple of those mistakes he made and move on during the bye week and start to prepare for Michigan State. He made enough throws when he had to and also was able to make some big plays with his legs in this game. It really seemed like Michigan may have opened the playbook up just a little more in this game.
The defense also stepped up big when needed and made some huge plays. Even though they didn't get to break out the turnover buffs, they still made plays when needed to. They once again showed that they can make great halftime adjustments and totally shut a team down. It was good to see them shut down Singleton and also get some good pressure on Clifford. This defensive unit does not seem to have missed a beat after losing Hutchinson, Hill, and Ojabo. They are picking up right where they left off last year and that is huge for this team.
I also loved the way this team was able to handle the adversity and fight back when things got tough. They have shown so much resiliency this season and that is something that we haven't seen from many Michigan teams in recent years past, and it is very refreshing. It feels like there is a new culture at Michigan and they always just find a way to win. That is what championship teams and programs do. They are now 19-2 in the last two seasons. The win also boosted Harbaugh to a 5-3 record against Penn State in his coaching career at Michigan, and gave the program win number 983 all time. I definitely do not want to look too far ahead and overlook any of Michigan's upcoming opponents, but it is looking like there is a great chance that the Michigan vs Ohio State game could feature two undefeated 11-0 teams with a Big Ten Championshop game and bragging rights on the line.
Overall it was a very solid win that taught us a lot about this team. Now, Michigan State is on the clock! See you soon, Sparty!
Go Blue! 〽️