Big Ten champs, again ... Michigan handles Purdue for second straight title

INDIANAPOLIS ­— Michigan came out on fire in the Big Ten championship game against Purdue, swarming defensively and getting the passing game going early. The Boilermakers would get better — and they made a game of it, but the Wolverines pulled away in the second half for a 43-22 victory and their second straight Big Ten championship.

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The Boilermakers tried going horizontal on their first series and lost 10 yards. It didn’t work. The Michigan playmakers swarmed them, and edge Jaylen Harrell ended the three-and-out with a 7-yard sack. 

The Purdue defense played tough against the run early, so U-M went to work through the air. Sophomore J.J. McCarthy completed 3 of his first 4 passes for 75 yards, completing the drive with a 25-yard touchdown strike to freshman tight end Colston Loveland. That followed a play in which McCarthy scrambled and found senior Ronnie Bell for a 16-yard gain. 

The Boilers were backed up to their own 8 on the next series after a penalty on the kickoff, and Michigan had a chance to seize control. Instead, the Boilermakers drove 92 yards in 10 plays, Tyrone Tracy Jr. finishing the drive with a 20-yard score. The Wolverines were tackle optional on the series and let Aidan O’Connell pick them apart. 

He was 8-for-8 for 70 yards at that point and way too comfortable in the pocket. 

Michigan went three-and-out on its series, and Purdue did on its next series, as well. But the Boilermakers faked the punt and picked up a first down. They’d end up kicking a field goal to take a 10-7 lead and were outgaining the Wolverines 128-57 at that point with 13:39 remaining in the first half. 

The Wolverines responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive of their own to go back up. The running game was hit-and-miss with sophomore running back Donovan Edwards, but McCarthy made big plays in the passing game and kept plays alive with his feet. Purdue jumped offsides on a 48-yard field goal attempt from Jake Moody, allowing U-M a fourth-and-1 vs. fourth-and-6 — they picked it up, and a few plays later McCarthy found Luke Schoonmaker for a 7-yard score rolling away from pressure. 

Purdue countered again. O’Connell continued to complete passes, including a third-and-12 connection to keep a drive alive. The Boilermakers kicked a field goal to cut it to 14-13, and they took over at their own 28-yard line with 51 seconds remaining after a Michigan three-and-out. 

U-M held and took a 14-13 lead into the half. Purdue outgained Michigan, 202 to 135, with O’Connell going 19-for-22 for 183 yards. U-M managed only 3 yards per carry, led by Edwards’ 11 carries for 34 yards. 

Second half — Michigan pulls away for second straight Big Ten title

The Michigan offensive adjustments were on display immediately to start the second half. Five plays, 75 yards, starting with a 60-yard run by Edwards to the Purdue 15 put the Wolverines in business. Converted linebacker Kalel Mullings capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run on first down, and the extra point put U-M up 21-13. 

The Michigan defense held the Boilermakers to a three-and-out, and the Wolverines went right back to work. McCarthy found Schoonmaker for 40 yards over the middle to move into Purdue territory. One play later, Edwards scored on a 27-yard touchdown, carrying defenders with him for a 28-13 Michigan lead. 

Purdue continued to have some success. A fake flea flicker for a 25-yard gain took the ball deep into Michigan territory before freshman corner Will Johnson stepped up with a huge interception at his own 1. The Wolverines went three-and-out, and Purdue responded with a drive for a field goal. 

McCarthy then made one of his worst plays of the year. He had all day to throw but left the pocket and threw a pick directly to Purdue’s Jamari Brown. The Boilers turned that into three more points, and it was 28-19 with 12:41 remaining. 

Michigan got a 20-yard run from Edwards to start the next drive but was forced to punt again. Robbins came up big again on a punt to the Purdue 12. 

Johnson then stepped up once more. He jumped a route for a pick at the Purdue 16, and U-M took over there with about 10 minutes to go. 

On third-and-11, McCarthy hit Bell with a strike in the back of the end zone. A 2-point conversion pass from McCarthy to Schoonmaker all but ended the suspense. 

Purdue drove the field again but took a lot of time doing it. They went 13 plays for 60 yards on a drive that results in a 32-yard field goal with 5:07 remaining. Carter Selzer recovered the onside kick attempt in Purdue territory, and U-M started working clock again. The Wolverines failed to pick up a first down, however, and faced fourth-and-2 from the 36. Mullings picked up 4 yards to keep it alive.

Another Edwards 18-yard run set up first-and-goal, and Mullings did the rest. He scored from 3 yards out for a 43-22 final.