
In romping past Penn State, Michigan shows it's a national title contender
At 7-0, No. 5-ranked Michigan is now a national contender.
And UM is only getting stronger.
Saturday’s 41-17 win over No. 10 Penn State in Ann Arbor firmly planted Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines in the big dog conversation. This group is the best Harbaugh has had during his 7-year tenure as head coach, and it’s a group that can make some noise in the College Football Playoff and snag UM’s first national crown since 1997.
Not huge on Michigan’s chances? Don’t like the winged helmet and all the hoopla surrounding Harbaugh? What about the players?
Remove your hater goggles and look at the facts.
The Wolverines have the ingredients for a national champ: Flash, flare, knockout power, core strength and an abundance of talent.
Saturday, running back Blake Corum scored a 61-yard, door-slamming touchdown in the third quarter. He is one of few players in the game who can score from anywhere, at any time, when he touches the ball.
Donovan Edwards, a running back/slot, rushed for a 67-yarder that proved to be the separator, helping prop the Wolverines to a 24-17 lead prior to Corum’s knockout blow to the Nittany Lions, who entered the game with one of the best run defenses in the country. He’s another lethal weapon on the Wolverines’ roster.
There are several playmakers at receiver: Roman Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, Andrel Anthony, Ronnie Bell and more. Michigan has about 6-8 of them at the position, actually.
Michigan made a major mistake during its top-10 showdown at the Big House but came back swinging, which is another trademark of a championship-contending squad. The Wolverines were up 13-0 before giving up a rushing TD and letting PSU back into the game — a game that had been statistically dominated, thoroughly, by Michigan. Then, right before halftime, Wolverines sophomore QB JJ McCarthy forced a throw (trying to do too much in a tight game) that resulted in a tip and 47-yard pick-6 ran in by linebacker Curtis Jacobs.
PINBALL PICK-6 FOR PENN STATE 😱@PennStateFball takes the lead at Michigan! pic.twitter.com/6ckw3N8C8T
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 15, 2022
That play could have been the turning point in either direction for Michigan, which continues to flex its strengths — and improve upon weaknesses — on a weekly basis.
The Wolverines turned a slow grinder into a late blowout — and they did that against a top-10 opponent. We’re all aware of how the media has smashed on Harbaugh for previous failures against ranked teams. Well, Saturday served as one of Harbaugh’s top wins at Michigan, and for a couple of reasons: The main reason is obviously winning a game that boosts a team into legitimate title conversations; the other is that “Harbaugh-ranked” trolls can zip their lips.
Who else on the schedule can beat the Wolverines, who barely give up 2 TDs per game?
The next four games for Michigan look like automatic wins: Michigan State is reeling, and that’s a home game for UM; Rutgers is Rutgers, whether at home or away; Nebraska and Illinois (both at home for UM) don’t appear anywhere close to being able to topple Michigan.
That leaves you-know-who for the regular-season finale: The Ohio State Buckeyes, who are arguably the best team in the land.
At least right now, that’s how things are looking.
Harbaugh vs. Ryan Day for all the B1G marbles and a trip to the Playoff?
Yup.
Jot that down on some paper right now.
Heisman contender in Corum?
Yeah, go ahead and throw him in that discussion. Doak Walker and B1G Player of the Year potential? Yeah, he has that too.
Michigan’s defense, led by the likes of DE Mike Morris and DT Mazi Smith, has all the parts necessary to win a championship. Since Harbaugh’s arrival in 2015, the Wolverines have routinely had top defenses in the country. Entering Saturday vs. Penn State, Michigan was No. 5 in total defense.
In terms of total offense, the Wolverines entered Saturday at No. 31 in the rankings. But they were at No. 7 in scoring offense, averaging 43 points per game.
And when things get tough, the Wolverines have Jake Moody, who may end up being a hero down the line. He knocked down 4 field goals Saturday against Penn State, a personal single-game record for one of the best kickers on the scene. Clutch genes are present in Moody, who is beyond reliable and consistent.
Michigan looks like a team that can dress it up or dress it down, adapting to the situation and making proper adjustments in order to get wins. A technically-sound team, UM can stifle teams with defense (3 turnover-on-downs vs. PSU) and find ways to put points on the board — two more trademarks of a championship-level team.
Michigan is the only team in college football that has a QB among leaders in completion percentage, a top-10 scoring offense and top-10 overall defense, a running back among national leaders in yardage and touchdowns and, not to mention, a reigning national coach of the year.
The 2021 season was the stuff made of legend for Michigan. Knocking off Ohio State and making it to the College Football Playoff was a dream come true for the Wolverines, who won the Big Ten for the first time since 2004. Not since 1992 had Michigan stood alone as Big Ten champion.
The Wolverines didn’t share the pie with anyone last season, and it looks like they could be feasting alone this year. A Big Ten title would mark their first back-to-back outright titles since 1991-1992 and their second back-to-back since 2003-2004 (shared titles).
Michigan continues to rewrite history. The past 2 seasons have demonstrated the value of Harbaugh. Michigan fans wanted to give him the boot 2 years ago.
But now he’s proving that patience wins the race as he steadily grooms a for-real national champion contender.