Michigan is 2-0 on the young season, rolling past UNLV in dominant fashion. While the final outcome was expected, the Wolverines proved up to the task of staying focused in their second game without head coach Jim Harbaugh.

When it was all said and done, the starters were pulled late in the third quarter with the Wolverines dismantling and wearing down the Rebels. Jay Harbaugh and Mike Hart split the interim head coaching duties, and there was never a moment where Michigan felt stressed in the game.

The W0lverines capped a 35-7 win and will get Bowling Green next weekend. Here are 3 takeaways from Saturday’s game:

Michigan has a true Heisman contender

Make no mistake about it: Michigan has a legit Heisman contender on the roster. However, the player is not the one many fans were thinking of entering the season.

If the Wolverines are going to produce a Heisman finalist this season the player most likely to fill that spot is quarterback JJ McCarthy. While a lot of attention was placed on Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, it is McCarthy who has been brilliant to open the season.

He was efficient with 30 attempted passes in the Week 1 win, and McCarthy followed that up by going 22-for-25 against the Rebels for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns without a turnover. To make that more impressive, McCarthy had 38 rushing yards and completed a pass to 7 different receivers.

The offense may start with the dynamic RB duo, but McCarthy now has a chance to prove he’s the engine to take the performances to an elite level this fall.

Jim Harbaugh’s interim plan proves to be brilliant

In all honesty, it never made much of a difference who Harbaugh appointed as the interim coach(es). With a number of veterans back and a strong leadership group, Michigan probably could have made it 3-0 to start the season without a coach on the sideline.

Okay, that probably sounds a bit dramatic… but it’s also true (Sort of). Still, it is also likely there are few head coaches with enough trust in their staff to let 4 different individuals take a turn carrying head coaching duties.

Prior to the season, Harbaugh raved about his staff and the likelihood there are a number of future head coaches in the group. While the suspension was not optimal, Harbaugh put his money where his mouth is, and it’s paying off.

You also can’t overlook the potential dividend this method can provide late in the season. If (when) things get tough. It’s an elite coaching staff, but there is also an elite level of trust across the staff and players. For a team with championship aspirations, that’s important.

Jim Harbaugh makes most of his time away

Coming out of Week 1, Harbaugh revealed he watched the Week 1 game with OC Sherrone Moore and his family. So, what did he do with his second game away from The Big House?

Well, in Week 2, Harbaugh was spotted at a youth football game working with the chain gang. Talk about the ultimate football guy!