By the numbers: Can Michigan keep breaking long runs?

Michigan football punted 8 times and completed 7 passes in a 27-24 win over USC. But the Wolverines found a way to pull off an epic victory at The Big House to begin the Big Ten season, rushing for 290 yards on 46 carries.

Graduate running back Kalel Mullings led the way with 159 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 rushes. He had a 53-yard score in the first quarter and a 63-yard dash that helped set up his game-winning, 1-yard touchdown with 37 seconds remaining. Senior Donovan Edwards also contributed with a 41-yard touchdown run to put Michigan up 14-0.

That made it 3 runs of 40-plus yards, with the Wolverines averaging just 3.1 yards per carry on the other 43 attempts.

Now, taking out the long runs isn’t fair. They counted, and they’re part of the game. But the level of sustainability can be questioned with using that method.

Michigan didn’t have any 40-plus yard runs in its first three games. It only had 7 in 15 outings all of last season, and that was with Edwards, Mullings and all-time great Blake Corum in the backfield.

Michigan is 1-0 with junior Alex Orji as the starting quarterback, even if he threw for only 32 yards on 12 attempts with 7 completions. The Maize and Blue bought themselves some more time to develop the passing game as the season progresses, with those Orji numbers not being at the expense of a win.

Next up for Michigan is Minnesota, which just allowed five runs of 20-plus yards, including a 40-yard touchdown, in a loss to Iowa. The Golden Gophers gave up 6 yards per carry and 272 total rushing yards. So the formula may work for one more week.

The Little Brown Jug on the line

Michigan and Minnesota will battle for the Little Brown Jug for the 99th time this weekend in Ann Arbor. The Maize and Blue have a 73-23-2 edge in games with the trophy on the line.

They’ve won 26 of the last 28 and 44 of the last 50. Michigan has kept possession of the jug by winning the last four meetings, including last season’s 52-10 beatdown in Minneapolis.

Michigan’s 77 wins over Minnesota are the most U-M has over any school. The Golden Gophers are the Wolverines’ third-most common opponent all time, with 105 matchups.

By the numbers: Michigan vs. Minnesota

4 Sacks for Michigan EDGE Josaiah Stewart, leading the Big Ten. Minnesota, meanwhile, doesn’t have a pass rusher with more than 1.5 sacks.

13th Nationally is where the Minnesota defense checks in with only 223.3 yards allowed per contest. The Golden Gophers are tied for 15th in scoring defense, too, giving up just 12.5 points per contest.

40-Percent third-down conversion rate for Michigan’s opponents. The Wolverines are tied for 89th nationally in that category. Minnesota’s offense has converted on 44.9 percent of its third-down opportunities.

41-8-1 Is Michigan’s record when ranked in the Associated Press poll and taking on Minnesota (U-M is No. 12). The Wolverines haven’t been ranked and lost to Minnesota since the second-rated team fell to the Gophers in 1986. Overall, Minnesota’s last victory over a team ranked No. 12 or higher was at No. 6 Ohio State in 2000.

43.4 Yards per punt for Michigan senior Tommy Doman, ranking 33rd in the nation. He boosted his numbers by averaging 47.9 yards per punt with a 56-yard long in last week’s win over USC. Doman is second in the Big Ten with a 4.31-second average hangtime, behind Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (4.39).

76.5 Rushing yards allowed per game by the Michigan defense, slotting 11th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten.

129th In the country and 18th of 18 Big Ten teams is where Michigan ranks with 122.8 passing yards per game. The Maize and Blue have attempted only 90 passes all season, tied for 111th in the nation. The efficiency on limited attempts isn’t there, either, with only 5.5 yards per pass (tied for 123rd in the country).

209 Passing yards per game for Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer, who transferred in ahead of this season from the FCS level (New Hampshire). That mark ranks 13th in the Big Ten. Brosmer has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 836 yards and 5 touchdowns with 3 interceptions.

429 Rushing yards for Mullings, the 12th-most in the country. That mark ranks third in the Big Ten, behind only Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (685) and Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai (457). Mullings’ 8.1 yards per carry checks in 27th nationally and sixth in the conference. Minnesota running back Darius Taylor — a state of Michigan native — is 11th in the conference with 74 rushing yards per game.