You should never apologize for a win. "They don't count pretty on the scoreboard," as Jim Harbaugh once said, but Michigan's win over Purdue was close, too close.
The five-point lead was too close for comfort. It's one thing if Michigan football loses to Ohio State in the final game of the regular season. It's another to have the season essentially be over, from a playoff perspective, before that game even happens.
A loss to Purdue would have made that a reality. Yet, the Wolverines responded with a big-time drive when needed to run out the final six minutes of game clock. They didn't pass once.
Jordan Marshall had 210 total yards (185 rushing), and as Sherrone Moore pointed out, all of Michigan's goals are ahead of it.
With that in mind, here are five observations from a 21-16 win over Purdue.
Jordan Marshall was legendary
After the game, Marshall gave all the credit to the offensive line. But truth be told, the second-year running back saved Michigan's bacon. Maybe down the road, we'll say that he saved Michigan's season.
After missing some cuts earlier this season, Marshall made the right read as he housed a 54-yard touchdown to open the scoring. There wasn't anything special about his second touchdown, but the third was sheer will.
With Michigan leading 14-10, on second-and-goal from the nine, Marshall ran into a group of Purdue defenders and just dragged them into the end zone.
It saved Michigan having to pick up a third-and-goal. It looked like he was going to be stopped five yards short. That play might have been the difference between a win and a loss, just like his 210 total yards.
Justice Haynes is elite but there are two RB1's in Ann Arbor.