By the numbers: Michigan run game back on track with 14th 300-plus yard outing in last 10 years

Michigan Wolverines football ran, ran and ran some more in a 28-18 win over Arkansas State, choosing to keep it on the ground instead of drop back on 42 of its 62 offensive snaps. U-M found success, with a season-best 301 rushing yards (6.8 yards per carry).

That marked the 14th 300-plus rushing yard day of the last 10 seasons for Michigan football, with the most recent coming in a 34-13 win over Washington to win the national championship Jan. 8 (303).

Michigan is 14-0 when rushing for 300-plus yards since 2015, winning by an average margin of 34.6 points. The Wolverines’ 10-point victory over the Red Wolves last weekend was actually the closest final score in any of those 14 occurrences.

Since 2015, Michigan is 13-19 when rushing for 125 yards or fewer, showing that the ground game has been a key to success, and lack of production in that area has been a reason for not having as much. The Wolverines had just 80 rushing yards in a 31-12 setback to Texas Sept. 7.

USC’s history against the Big Ten, Michigan

USC, one of the conference’s newest members entering its first league game, has been very successful against the Big Ten throughout history, with a 75-30 record (.714). Since 1970, USC is 6-1 against Michigan.

The Trojans have also fared well on the road, winning their last three away contests against Big Ten foes — 32-21 over Minnesota in 2010, 18-15 over Ohio State in 2009 and 55-4 over Illinois in 1996.

Dating back to 1936, USC is 23-10 on the road in Big Ten venues. The Trojans are 0-1 at Michigan Stadium, falling 20-19 in 1957.

The two teams have matched up 10 times in history, including eight showdowns in the Rose Bowl. Michigan won both on-campus contests, at USC in 1957 (16-6) and in Ann Arbor in 1958. USC, however, has the edge with a 6-2 mark in Rose Bowls.

The Trojans have won the last three meetings between the two teams — 32-18 in 2007, 28-14 in 2004 and 17-10 in 1990 — with Michigan’s last victory in the series coming in 1989, 22-14.

By the numbers: Michigan vs. USC

6 Touchdown passes for USC quarterback Miller Moss in last season’s 42-28 Holiday Bowl victory over Louisville, helping earn him the starting job for this year. He completed 23 of his 33 passes for 372 yards and threw 1 interception. Moss has connected on 72.7 percent of his throws for 607 yards and 2 scores this fall.

7.5 Yards per carry for Michigan graduate running back Kalel Mullings, ranking seventh in the Big Ten. He leads the Wolverines with 270 rushing yards on 36 carries and has punched in 2 touchdowns.

16-2 Is Michigan’s record in its last 18 Big Ten openers. The Wolverines were 8-1 in conference season debuts under head coach Jim Harbaugh (2015-23).

19 Receptions on 24 targets for Michigan junior Colston Loveland, with both figures leading the nation’s tight ends. Loveland leads the Wolverines with 187 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Loveland left the last game early with an injury. His 80 career receptions rank sixth all time among Michigan tight ends.

20 Total points allowed by USC through two games this season, its lowest point total given up in the first two contests of a campaign since 2015 (15). The Trojans are now led by new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, who spent last season at cross-town rival UCLA. Last year, USC’s best two-game stretch in points allowed was 24 versus Nevada (14) and Stanford (10). The Trojans gave up 28 or more points in 11 of 13 games, including in all nine tilts against conference foes.

22 Straight Big Ten regular-season wins for Michigan, a program record. Adding in conference championship games, the Maize and Blue have won 25 consecutive contests against conference opponents.

47-Straight games with a catch for USC running back Woody Marks, the longest active streak in the nation. He has 6 receptions for 46 yards this season. The Mississippi State transfer racked up 1,225 receiving yards over four seasons from 2020-23.

48-0 Was the score of USC’s win over Utah State Sept. 7, marking the program’s first shutout since a 50-0 triumph over UCLA in 2011.

2019-21 Were the three seasons that USC defensive line coach Shaun Nua spent at Michigan. He helped the Maize and Blue win their first Big Ten championship in 17 years in 2021, before moving on to Los Angeles.