Michigan Football earns some respect with win over Minnesota

Michigan football notched an impressive 33-10 win over Minnesota, getting some respect back and getting itself back into the AP top 25.

Michigan football is back in the top 25!  Whew!

Related Story: 3 takeaways from the Wolverines win over Minnesota

Last week’s huge exhalation of relief was all about Brandon Peters and the discovery that a quarterback actually did make a difference in the outcome of a tough game in the Big 10.

This week, game balls all over the place, as Michigan looked like Michigan, tough on defense, tough on offense.  A game without turnovers!  Who knew?

Peters, Karan Higdon, and Chris Evans will get the lion’s share of attention and with good reason.  Peters was 8 for 13 for 56 yards and a touchdown, but more impressively, he ran the offense like a well oiled machine, protecting the ball when he was hit, and handing off without incident.

Higdon and Evans combined for over three hundred yards, Higdon for 200 and Evans for 191, the first pair of Michigan football backs to rack up more than a 100 yards each in two successive weeks since 1975.

Fans who have been waiting for Michigan’s offense to kick into gear were treated to a display of dominance on the offensive line that seemed out of reach this season. Consider this:  Michigan ended up with 371 rushing yards in total, AVERAGING 10.9 yards PER CARRY.  Yes, Higdon and Evans broke some great long runs, but the true stars of Saturday’s game were Mason Cole, Ben Bredeson, Patrick Kugler, Juwan Bushell-Beaty, and Cesar Ruiz who busted open holes in the defensive line on almost every play.

The announcers could not contain themselves, shouting names that hadn’t been shouted much this season.  Cole and Kugler were notably effective, and Ruiz more than solid in his first start.

As reported in the Detroit Free Press, Coach Jim Harbaugh put it this way after the game, “That was quite a performance,” Harbaugh said. “That was a game for the ages if you’re an offensive lineman.”

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Pretty close to a game for the ages for the defense as well.  Maurice Hurst’s powerful play reminded spectators that he is one of the most eagerly awaited defensive players coming into the draft, and Devon Bush and Chase Winovich kept the pressure on Minnesota from the start, but Saturday was Khaleke Hudson Day, complete justification of coach Brown’s decision to play him as “The Viper”, the free flying unassigned linebacker, the role played last season by Jabrill Peppers.  Hudson caused a fumble, almost blocked a punt, racked up 10 tackles, five for a loss, and 2 sacks.

Yes, Michigan football won back a great deal of respect in handling Minnesota, and the tide seems to have turned quite nicely, but the path to the Conference Championship is blocked by Michigan State and Penn State, which leaves Michigan and the Big 10 in the odd position of being too close to parity at the top.

By the end of the season, even after the championship game, it is entirely likely that the selection committee of the FBS may have no clear nominee from the conference.  Wisconsin may run the table, but it faces only two ranked teams all season, Iowa and Michigan.  Some awfully strong teams from other conferences are likely to arrive at season’s end with more substantial credentials, leaving the Big 10 out of the mix precisely because the strong teams have been feeding on each other.

No, the rest of Michigan’s season is about momentum, and pride … and recruiting.  Four and Five star recruits want to play with winners, and Michigan would love to land some of those recruits. Michigan plays Maryland and Wisconsin away, but both games are televised, and another great game, couple of great games, string of great games can sway a prospect.  Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, a victory over Ohio State in the Big House could make all the difference in both the December and February signing days.

Next: Top 10 Michigan Running Backs of All Time

Great to see Michigan back in the conversation.  Go Blue!