By the numbers: Seven stats that drove Michigan's 7-0 start

Michigan Wolverines football is 7-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1973-74. The offense has been prolific, the defense has been stout and the special teams have been efficient.

Let’s break down seven important stats that have driven the 7-0 start, then examine key figures surrounding Michigan State, the Maize and Blue’s next opponent.

RELATED

• Michigan Wolverines aren’t seeking bulletin-board material from MSU: ‘I don’t need them to say anything to hype me up’

• Jim Harbaugh, Michigan using 2021 MSU loss as motivation: ‘Nobody’s watched that game more than we have’

1. Run blocking

Michigan’s offensive line lost two starters from last year’s group that won the Joe Moore Award, but it’s arguably better after adding graduate center Olusegun Oluwatimi (Virginia) and plugging in senior Trente Jones, who missed the last game with a high-ankle sprain, and senior Karsen Barnhart at right tackle.

According to Sports Info Solutions, Michigan is averaging 3.5 rushing yards before contact per attempt, excluding short-yardage situations, and that’s thanks to the offensive line and tight ends blocking.

As we’ll talk about below, Michigan has good enough running backs to take advantage of that.

2. Heisman contender at running back

Michigan junior running back Blake Corum had high expectations heading into the season, but he’s exceeded those and has become one of college football’s best players. He’s tied atop the country with 13 rushing touchdowns and is seventh with 901 yards — firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation through seven games.

Corum is extremely agile, with the ability to make cuts in small areas. He’s forced 65 missed tackles — which leads the country and is 11 more than the next-best player — has picked up 57 first downs (second) and had 15 runs of 15-plus yards (tied for third).

He’s backed up by sophomore Donovan Edwards, who brings his own flair to the offense. Edwards has 8 receptions for 89 yards and a key score against Iowa, and has also shown his prowess as a traditional running back. He’s run 43 times for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns in five games, having had to sit out two contests with an injury.

3. Accuracy through the air

Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy has the nation’s best completion percentage (77.1). He’s thrown for 1,297 yards, with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while averaging 9 yards per attempt (tied for 14th).

The Wolverines rank tied for 106th in the country with 26.6 pass attempts per outing, so there hasn’t been a huge workload for McCarthy in the passing game, but he’s answered the bell when called upon.

McCarthy’s accuracy has been especially evident on throws within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage — he’s connected on 85 of 94 such attempts for 722 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Michigan has seen 795 of its 1,623 yards come after the catch, and McCarthy has been responsible for putting the ball on target and allowing his receivers to make plays with the ball in their hands.

4. Pass rush improvement

It’s been well-documented how much pass-rush production Michigan lost from a season ago, and it took some time for the Wolverines to start making that back up this year. But it’s fair to say the unit is becoming elite once again.

After the Big Ten opener against Maryland, Michigan slotted 90th nationally with a 27.6-percent pressure rate, including a 21.9-percent mark with four or less rushers (111th in the country). Given the level of competition the Maize and Blue played with one of the weakest nonconference slates in the sport, those numbers were concerning.

However, since then, from Week 5 to Week 7, Michigan generated pressure on 43.2 percent of opponents’ drop-backs (second nationally during that span), including a 39.8-percent mark without blitzing (third). Eleven of Michigan’s 13 sacks during that stretch came without blitzing, the second-most in the sport. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Co. made adjustments with their pass-rush packages, including with personnel, different fronts, disguises and more.

Michigan’s formula of getting a lead, controlling the clock and making opponents pass has worked to perfection. During the aforementioned three-week stretch, the Wolverines have gotten pressure on a nation’s-leading 59 percent of opponents’ drop-backs in the fourth quarter. That’s allowed them to slam the door late and come away victorious.

5. Run wall

Michigan’s run defense has also played a part in allowing its pass rush to get home, of course. The Wolverines are allowing just 4.2 yards per carry on early downs (first and second), which checks in 26th in the country. That has put opponents in third-and-long situations. Overall, Michigan is allowing third-down conversions at a 31.3-percent rate (22nd).

No opponent has rushed for more than 140 yards on Michigan, and only three have gained more than 100 yards on the ground. In the last three contests, the Maize and Blue have given up 35 to Iowa, 19 to Indiana and 111 to Penn State. Sixty-two of Penn State’s rushing yards came on one play.

Each of the four Big Ten teams Michigan has faced have had to throw 33 or more times — including 44-plus attempts twice — due in part to a lack of success running the football.

6. Stellar secondary

Michigan’s secondary and the pass rush have played complementary football all season long. Earlier in the year when the pass rush wasn’t getting home as often, the back end was holding up its end of the bargain, even with frequent blitzes (fewer men in coverage).

Per Sports Info Solutions, Michigan is allowing an 81.3-percent deserved catch rate (number of completions and drops divided by the number of catchable targets and passes defensed), which ranks 22nd in the land. It’s yielding only 4.3 yards per cover snap, second only to Illinois, and opposing quarterbacks have a 67.0 average rating, the ninth-best mark in the country for a defense.

7. Special teams

According to Football Outsiders, Michigan has the second-most efficient special teams unit in the country, after finishing first in the category last season.

The Maize and Blue are top 15 in three categories — kick return efficiency (12th), punt return efficiency (14th) and punt efficiency (fourth).

Graduate kicker Jake Moody has connected on 13 of his 16 field goal attempts, including three from 40-plus yards with a 52-yard long. Michigan junior punt returner A.J. Henning leads the Big Ten with 9.4 yards per punt return with 1 touchdown.

Key Michigan State stats

Here are some key stats for Michigan State’s offense, followed by the defense:

Category	Average	National Rank
Scoring offense	27.0 PPG	T-78th
Total offense	349.0 YPG	104th
Passing offense	242.9 YPG	65th
Rushing offense	106.1 YPG	116th
Sacks allowed	1.7 PG	T-49th
Tackles for loss allowed	4.1 PG	T-21st

Category	Average	National Rank
Scoring defense	27.1 PPG	T-73rd
Total defense	422.3 YPG	105th
Passing defense	269.0 YPG	T-110th
Rushing defense	153.3 YPG	80th
Sacks	2.4 PG	T-42nd
Tackles for loss	4.1 PG	T-21st