There have been times in the past when Michigan football teams have faced adversity and then abruptly folded. They might never admit it, but it has happened through the years. Penn State last year and the bowl game with South Carolina quickly come to mind.

It could have happened again on Saturday at Northwestern. Michigan was down 17-0 almost in a heartbeat. It was a perfect time to fold, but instead the Wolverines battled back and won 20-17.

Dreams still alive. Goals still alive.

It was surprising that the deficit got so big so fast, but it wasn’t surprising that Northwestern came ready to play. Coming off a bye week, they were well-prepared for what Michigan had to offer. They made all the plays early, and Michigan didn’t. Touchdown, field goal, touchdown later, it was 17-0.

“I thought they had a great game plan and they have a tremendous coaching staff,” Harbaugh said of Pat Fitzgerald and his staff.  “They were playing good and we didn’t. We didn’t get the first downs on our first possessions. They made first downs and made drives. They had a really good first quarter offensively and defensively.”

It set the stage for Michigan’s players to prove what they were made of, and if they were capable of overcoming adversity. They did just that.

“We had to show what we’re made of. I like what we’re made of,” Harbaugh said.  “A lot of guys showed their mettle, a  lot of guys really left it out there, played their hearts out.

“We talked about it at halftime. We were being tested and this is time to find out what we’re made of. Our guys really responded. They were, in the kind of fashion that, nothing had to be done or had to be made by players. Coaches had some tremendous adjustments.”

Michigan’s wounded defense responded to the challenge, never allowing another point in the final 43 minutes of the game. The offense found its way too, keeping drives alive after staggering early, and finding a way to get yards for running back Karan Hidgon when they needed to.

And then they handed the reins to quarterback Shea Patterson, and in the fourth quarter they told him to go win it. He did just that, completing all three of his passes on the game-winning drive and running for a huge first down, gaining nine yards on a tough third-and-6.

It was the fourth straight win for Michigan and its second straight in the Big Ten. The win kept all their conference hopes alive. More importantly, it sent a message to others that if you get the Wolverines down, you just don’t have them out.

Most importantly, it sends a message to themselves. Harbaugh has gone on and on in the past month about how this team is different, that it loves to work all week long and they take that effort with them into Saturdays.

This team, they seem to really like each other. They also seem to have a lot of confidence in themselves without being overconfident.

That’s a nice trait to have.