Michigan football put together a dominating performance against Indiana and here are five things we learned in the Wolverines win.
For the second time this season, Michigan football started out a game sluggish at home. Rutgers grabbed an early lead against the Wolverines and Indiana did the same thing on Saturday.
After stopping Michigan football twice in the first quarter, with three sacks on two possessions, Indiana connected on a touchdown pass, on a trick play, giving the Hoosiers a 7-0 lead.
Michigan football responded with a cool 52-0 run. The Wolverines punted their first two drives and then scored on their next eight before taking a knee. That includes two touchdown drives led by Jack Tuttle, the former Indiana quarterback, who tossed a touchdown pass against his old team.
J.J. McCarthy started 0-for-2 but missed one pass for the rest of the game. He was money on a fourth-and-goal at the two and found Roman Wilson for his ninth touchdown reception.
Blake Corum scored right before the half to make it 21-7, then McCarthy found Colston Loveland for a 54-yard touchdown in the third quarter and the rout was on.
McCarthy sat for most of the fourth quarter once again and here are five things we learned from another 50-point performance by Michigan football, which has outscored its four Big Ten opponents by a score of 180-31. That’s an average score of 45-7.
Incredible.
Michigan is as good as any team in the country
We didn’t learn this just against Indiana. It’s been building for weeks. Michigan is the only team to have won all of its games by 20 points. No team has scored more than 10 and Michigan has been as good as advertised, especially the past three weeks.
I don’t expect Michigan to leap Georgia in the rankings. The Wolverines haven’t beaten any ranked teams and UGA deserves to be No. 1 until someone beats it.
I’m not even saying that Michigan would beat Georgia. But for the first time, I’m really starting to think that they can. The defense is suffocating; McCarthy is elite and the line play on both sides is as good as it gets.
There aren’t any weaknesses right now. There’s a long way to go, but man, enjoy the ride.
J.J. McCarthy plays a game Michigan fans aren’t familiar with
Bobby Jones once said of Jack Nicklaus, “He plays a game I’m not familiar with.”
That’s how I feel about J.J. McCarthy and Michigan football fans because frankly, I don’t think we’ve ever seen a quarterback this good for the Wolverines. Ever.
There have been some greats. Jim Harbaugh is one of them, but in the modern era, McCarthy is the first I can remember being mentioned in the Heisman race and as a top-10 pick.
After two incompletions, McCarthy missed one pass for the rest of the game. His QBR leads all of college football and after Caleb Williams stubbed his toe, McCarthy has a real shot in this Heisman race. Michael Penix has big numbers, but McCarthy will have his chance to shine against Penn State and Ohio State.
His completion percentage is 78.6. His passer rating is 250 and he’s accounted for 17 touchdowns as well as just three interceptions. In six of seven games though, McCarthy has been turnover free.
Flat out, I believe he’s the best quarterback in college football, which is why I think the Wolverines could have a real shot to end the season at No. 1.
The wide receiver room is stocked for the future
It’s been so fun to watch Roman Wilson ball out this season. Cornelius Johnson is having another really good campaign, but the Wolverines are also getting production out of their young wideouts.
Semaj Morgan caught the third touchdown pass of the game from McCarthy and that was his second touchdown reception in Big Ten play. The freshman from West Bloomfield looks to have a bright future and he’s not alone.
Tyler Morris is starting to stand out in his second season and had his best game as a Wolverine on Saturday, catching four passes for 54 yards, including a 23-yarder. He also had a 27-yard punt return when the game was still competitive.
Karmello English came on and caught a touchdown pass from Jack Tuttle and it’s great to see these young guys making plays, which bodes well for the future, as well as the rest of this season.
The defense is checking all the boxes
I know that Michigan football hasn’t played the most difficult schedule. That being said, Rutgers has won five games — Nebraska is 3-3. Minnesota was 3-3 after the Wolverines win.
Regardless, what was really good to see on Saturday was Michigan football taking the ball away, instead of just stone-walling teams
Takeaways are an essential part of being an elite defense. The Wolverines had two takeaways and two defensive touchdowns against Minnesota.
Michigan followed that up with four takeaways on Saturday. Indiana was the first team to advance the ball into a goal-to-go situation, however, Mike Sainristil tipped a pass that was intercepted by Rod Moore.
Michael Barrett also had an epic strip sack, forcing a fumble and recovering it himself. The defense is allowing less than seven points per game and now, it’s taking the ball away too, which is a scary combination for opponents.
Michigan’s offense is something to behold
The Wolverines have been known for offensive efficiency during the Jim Harbaugh era. However, Michigan football is taking their game on offense to another level.
This isn’t just a game-control offense anymore. It has quite possibly the best quarterback in the country, the best running back in the country, and one of the best offensive lines, as well as maybe the best tight-end pairing in Colston Loveland and A.J. Barner.
Georgia is freaking talented, but Michigan football has NFL players up and down the offensive depth chart — McCarthy, Corum, Wilson, Johnson, Loveland, Donovan Edwards, Barner, Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, LaDarius Henderson, and Karsen Barnhart are probably all NFL draft picks or at least rookie signings.
This roster is incredible and it’s not just the defense. I’d put this offense up against any in the country. It’s not an air-raid attack or anything but it’s balanced, it’s elite and it’s as good per-play as any college football team.