Michigan Football: Gut reactions, highlights from comeback win over Illinois

It wasn’t pretty but Michigan football was able to pull out a win and notch its second consecutive 11-win season. Here are highlights and gut reactions. 

Michigan football has a lot of things to work on this week, but it’s always nice to focus on improvements coming off a win, instead of a loss.

And Saturday’s game at the Big House against Illinois could have easily been a loss. For much of the second half, it looked like it would be.

Blake Corum got things started well with a 39-yard run on the first drive and his 18th rushing touchdown. Mason Graham also balled out but it wouldn’t be a sign of things to come.

Chase Brown was spectacular for Illinois. He scored a touchdown to tie the game and another to put the Illini up 17-10 in the second half.

Michigan football has its own superstar running back, however, Blake Corum got hurt and despite one carry in the third quarter, he didn’t play the rest of the game.

With Donovan Edwards out, Michigan had to turn to J.J. McCarthy and while it wasn’t pretty, he led three field-goal drives in the second half, including two in the fourth quarter.

Jim Harbaugh went for a field goal down four with just a few minutes left and it worked out. The defense forced a three-and-out and McCarthy converted a huge fourth down to Isaiah Gash, who made up for a drop earlier in the game, to get into field goal range.

Jake Moody hit his fourth field goal with nine seconds left and Michigan football survived. The Wolverines will head to Columbus 11-0 and here are the gut reactions.

Michigan football beats Illinois: Gut reactions

• You can’t blame the staff for Blake Corum. It was a weird hit. Praying he can play next week because the offense isn’t the same without him.
• J.J. McCarthy battled. But he didn’t play well. He must be better next week or Michigan is really going to struggle. The running game won’t work like last year. Mark my words.
• Hopefully, Edwards, Mike Morris, Luke Schoonmaker, and the rest are healthy. They are needed.
• Outside of Jake Moody, the defense needs a game ball.
• Down 17-10, the defense didn’t allow another score. It got a key fourth-down stop and forced a three-and-out when a first down would have meant game over. Gutsy.
• Moody is the best kicker in college football.
• The receivers need to make more plays. J.J. needs to throw better but it’s not just on him.
• Feel better about next week after a win. A loss would have been hard to recover from.
• Just beat Ohio State.