Highlights, Gut reactions as Michigan Football wins Big Ten title again

For the first time since 1992, Michigan football has won back-to-back, undisputed Big Ten championships. Here are the highlights and gut reactions. 

Not long ago, winning a Big Ten championship seemed almost impossible for Michigan football, especially with its inability to beat Ohio State.

But after a 43-22 win on Saturday over the Purdue Boilermakers, the Wolverines have not only won another Big Ten championship, they have won two in a row outright for the first time since 1991-1992.

Purdue didn’t make it easy. Aidan O’Connell was tremendous and Jeff Brohm had his team ready to play. But the Wolverines made just enough big plays on both sides of the ball to win the game and win a second straight Big Ten title game after dominating Ohio State a week ago.

J.J. McCarthy wasn’t perfect. His interception was the result of a bad decision. He missed a couple of throws but he also delivered laser after laser.

The first was to Colston Loveland to give Michigan football a 7-0 lead. His second touchdown to Luke Schoonmaker was also spectacular and once again showed his ability to move around the pocket and deliver an accurate football.

With the Wolverines leading 14-13 at the half, there were some nervous moments. But Michigan dominated the second half like it always does — 28-9 (in the 2nd half) and that was all she wrote.

Donovan Edwards set the tone with his 60-yard run at the start of the second half. He then found his way into the end zone. Kalel Mullings also perfected his role as short-yardage back and pounded in a pair of second-half touchdowns.

However, the game really wasn’t over until a McCarthy touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell following Will Johnson’s second interception.

That put Michigan football up 17 and the final margin wound up being 21. Incredibly, the Wolverines are back-to-back Big Ten champs and you get the feeling they are far from finished.

Gut reactions from Michigan football win

• Jim Harbaugh is as elite as they come. Incredible job. Back-to-back titles. The first 13-win season in program history. Pay him as much money as he wants (figure out NIL too).
• J.J. McCarthy is still learning but my goodness, he made some special throws. The last touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell looked like Aaron Rodgers.
• Donovan Edwards is also special and he’s going to be one of two Heisman candidates for the Wolverines along with McCarthy in 2023.
• What’s crazy is that McCarthy, Will Johnson, and Donovan Edwards all signed or committed before this run. They all believed in Jim Harbaugh when others didn’t and that faith has been rewarded.
• Johnson by the way looks like a clone of Charles Woodson and I can’t offer any praise higher than that. I thought he should have been the MVP. Those interceptions changed the game.
• Give Aidan O’Connell credit — he was the best quarterback Michigan has faced this season.
• Michigan’s offensive line proved again it’s the best in the country.
• I don’t care who the opponent is, teams should fear Michigan.
• This is the best feeling in the world!
• Go Blue!