Early Michigan Football vs TCU roundtable preview

Going back to Purdue, what did you make of the Wolverine’s performance?

Jordan: The performance was gutsy, but reflected the team. Purdue outgained the Wolverines, but the defense did a tremendous job of bending and not breaking, which really is the identity of this team. It was a great win.

Brady: In typical Michigan football fashion, the Wolverines played an average first half before really turning it on in the second half. It was way closer than I would’ve thought going into it, but I’m glad we faced some adversity before heading into the playoff.

Nick: It was a little shaky in the first half, but they opened the floodgates in the second and proved they are the Big Ten’s best yet again.

Josh: Very happy with their performance. Purdue played arguably their best game of the year and it just wasn’t enough. Jeff Brohm (who’s since left for Louisville) called a great game but as the guys already mentioned, Michigan does what they do best: put their foot on the enemy’s throat in the second half.

Cameron: I thought Michigan did what I expected them to do. Let Purdue hang around for a while, but pulled away in the end. There were some nervous moments for sure, but Purdue and Aidan O’Connell played really well, which is what I expected coming into the game. I never doubted Michigan would win.

Chris: The game pretty much went as I expected and followed my predictions pretty closely, but I was still worried until that J.J. McCarthy touchdown to Ronnie Bell. That was the best throw he’s made all season. It reminded me of Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl against the Steelers when he threaded the needle to Greg Jennings.

There are not many people on the planet that can make that throw and Michigan football has one of them which is pretty damn exciting. I knew Aidan O’Connell was going to give Michigan fits. He’s a damn good QB. But to see McCarthy follow up his best game with another really good one in a championship game no less, showed that he’s arrived.