Best and worst from Michigan's win over Minnesota
Michigan Wolverines football defeated Minnesota, 27-24, Saturday at The Big House. Here are the best and worst from the triumph.
RELATED
• Wolverine Watch: Michigan survives another squeaker
• Defense / ST notes: Michigan dominates early in ‘tale of two halves,’ Dominic Zvada makes history
Workhorse
Asked Monday if Michigan graduate running back Kalel Mullings had earned the starting role over senior Donovan Edwards, head coach Sherrone Moore said he deserved to be “in the conversation.” That remark raised some eyebrows, considering Mullings had been the more effective back through four weeks.
Well, Mullings got his first career start on offense (he had one on defense against Colorado State in 2022, a reminder that he hasn’t been a collegiate running back all that long). The 6-foot-2, 233-pound bruiser went over 100 yards for the third straight week, with 111 and 2 touchdowns on 24 carries.
Mullings had the Michigan team on his back at times, too. The Boston native was stacked up for no gain on a fourth-and-1 but his extra effort got him the first down. He also stayed up for seven seconds, pushing the pile at the end so that Michigan didn’t have to run another play on fourth down and could instead raise up the Little Brown Jug in celebration.
Those were two of his most underrated plays of the afternoon, but he had plenty of notable ones, too, such as his 2 touchdowns. His 27-yard touchdown on a third-and-1 with Minnesota putting almost its entire defense up at the line of scrimmage was huge. That put the Wolverines up 7-0.
Small margin for error
Coaches often talk about how games don’t come down to just one play — each snap is important throughout the course of a game. And doesn’t that ring true given the result of Saturday’s tilt.
Vibes were high in Ann Arbor when Michigan led 21-3 at halftime and 24-3 in the third quarter, but things changed on a dime once Minnesota got some momentum and made it a dicey game at the end.
The Golden Gophers’ resurgence made Michigan’s blocked punt, 53-yard field goal, fumble recovery, interception, fourth-down pickup from its own 34-yard line and other plays earlier in the game so much more important.
The Wolverines were out-gained, 296 to 241 in yardage, with the offense struggling once again. Two of Michigan’s three touchdowns came on short fields. The Wolverines turned it over once and went three-and-out four times.
This offense just hasn’t gotten going at all, even with junior Alex Orji as the starting quarterback, which means the margins are so slim. Michigan can’t afford to make mistakes because it hasn’t been capable of delivering the kill shots when the opportunities are there.
Worst throw
Speaking of the potential knockout blow, Orji had two receivers open — junior tight end Colston Loveland up the seam and and senior running back Donovan Edwards on a wheel route along the sideline — on his interception. He chose what looked to be his primary read even though Edwards was open, which was fine — Loveland had space, too. But he threw it way too far inside, a bad ball, with defensive back Ethan Robinson picking it off.
There’s no way Robinson should’ve picked that ball off. The cornerback was covering on the other half of the field before flipping his hips to recover to Loveland. He only could because that ball wasn’t thrown to the hash marks like it should’ve been.
Best special teams play
Minnesota punter Mark Crawford — a Western Australia native — is savvy in the backfield. There were times when he saw there was no rush, sat back while rolling a bit to his right and punted, allowing his coverage men to get down the field. But late in the second quarter, boy was there a rush.
Michigan had numbers, with four rushers against just two Minnesota upbacks, and senior EDGE Kechaun Bennett got the block. Senior linebacker Christian Boivin recovered it and returned it to the Minnesota 11-yard line , and the Wolverines scored on their very first play of the drive, with Orji hitting junior wideout Tyler Morris for the touchdown.
Top 10
- 1New
Kalen has Kirby scrambling
Alabama offense puts Georgia in a blender
- 2Hot
Jeremiah Smith
Ohio State 5-star true freshman WR makes insane TD snag
- 3
Upset
Kentucky beats No. 6 Ole Miss on the road
- 4
Travis Hunter
Colorado star hits Heisman pose after ridiculous interception
- 5Live
Meltdown
Auburn fans react to 27-21 loss to Oklahoma
Gimme that
Michigan’s two defensive takeaways were things of beauties. Junior nickel back Zeke Berry got a strip and recovery, and sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill had an impressive pick along the sideline. The best defensive play, though, goes to Hill.
Hill was chasing his man down the sideline on a deep ball and didn’t turn his head until the last moment. He said he didn’t even expect the ball to come his way until it did, and he took advantage with the catch and toe tap in bounds.
Wildest swing
Michigan has been out-scored 57-26 and out-gained 595-389 in the second halves of the last three games, so the way the Wolverines played in the final two quarters against Minnesota was the continuation of a trend.
Minnesota won the second half, 21-6, and racked up 166 yards to the Wolverines’ 134. Michigan was on its heels late, struggling to defend the pass and move the ball.
There were two key pivot points in this ball game. First, the aforementioned Orji-thrown interception, Second, a hands-to-the-face call on junior defensive tackle Mason Graham as Michigan got a fourth-and-11 stop early in the fourth quarter. The questionable penalty gave the Gophers new life, and they scored two plays later to make it 24-10. That game is likely over if it weren’t for the call, but it doesn’t excuse the way Michigan closed out the game.
Biggest break
Minnesota had only one timeout left and needed an onside kick recovery to have a reasonable chance with 1:40 remaining down three points. The Gophers actually got their recovery, but it was called back due to a really close offsides call. Mullings got the recovery on the next attempt, but of course.
Stepping up
Michigan senior EDGE TJ Guy earned his first career start with senior EDGE Josaisah Stewart out with an injury, and he was a bright spot. He played with all-out effort every snap he was in the game, even when his helmet came off on the play in which he recorded his third career sack. He also added 2 quarterback pressures and 4 tackles.
Biggest leg
Michigan junior kicker Dominic Zvada made a 53-yard field goal, one of his two makes on the day, giving him the Wolverines’ single-season record with 4 makes from 50-plus yards. He accomplished that feat in only five games — just amazing.
Misson accomplished
The No. 1 goal to retain the Little Brown Jug for the fifth straight time against Minnesota was attained.
