14 Michigan ran away after taking control of the game in the second half over Wisconsin 38-17 on Saturday, beating the hosts 25-7 in the final two quarters. It was the first win for the Wolverines in Madison, Wisconsin since 2001, and their first as an underdog under coach Jim Harbaugh.
Neither offense showed much life during the game, but Michigan seemed to be in control early until Wisconsin's offense rallied late in the second quarter and cut a 13–10 lead into the break. Wisconsin started the second half with the ball, and seemingly momentum, but quarterback Graham Mertz was ruled out with a rib injury on a sack. Michigan's Daxton Hill blasted from the slot and leveled Mertz to his left. Mertz was forced to leave the sport and never returned. Shortly after his departure, Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson was seen on the sidelines without his pads.
Without their two key offensive players, the Badgers' offense stalled. Chase Wolf replaced Mertz and immediately stumbled on one drive before tossing a barrier on the next. Those turnovers put the game out of reach as Michigan extended their lead to 31-10.
Michigan QB Cade McNamara completed 17 of 28 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdown tosses were for Cornelius Johnson, the only ball Johnson caught other than a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter on the afternoon.
Michigan leads 5–0 with the win, while Wisconsin has fallen 1–3 to begin their season for the first time since 1990.
Don't look now, but @umichfootball is ROLLING 🔥〽️ pic.twitter.com/XGl9Y1iEAV
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
1. Michigan gets the monkey off its back
It's been nearly eight years since Michigan did what it is today: win a game straight as an underdog. Yes, you read that right. The last time the Wolverines won a game they were not expected by the oddsmakers was on November 16, 2013, when they defeated Northwestern 27–19.
Since then it has suffered 18 consecutive defeats, including a 0–11 under Harbaugh. Now, Michigan fans can point to the fact that they've only been an underdog in 19 games over the past eight years, but their inability to win any of those games was still a reflection of what the program was about at the time. Where have you been during
Maybe this Saturday's win is the start of a turnaround... or maybe Michigan shouldn't have been the underdog against a Wisconsin team that's been terrible this season. We'll let history decide!
💪 @UMichFootball is running away with this one! pic.twitter.com/NSdA5VsAvd
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
2. The Wolverines are still limited offensively
The good news for Michigan is that it won't face as many more defenses this season as Wisconsin does. bad news? Wisconsin showed that if you take away Michigan's run game, it's not nearly as aggressively effective. Don't let the 38 points made by Wolverine fool you. He ended the day with only 365 yards, averaging only 4.9 yards per game.
The average length of its three touchdown drives was only 53.7 yards, and the longest was a 67-yard drive that J.J. McCarthy to Dylan Baldwin at the end of the fourth quarter, when both teams had sent the reserve out. Don't be surprised if you see McCarthy taking more pictures. Michigan was working him more into the game this week, and he brings a dynamic to the passing attack this team is lacking right now.
Ouch 😬@UMichFootball delivered a big blow to Graham Mertz pic.twitter.com/Evu76E9Igt
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
3. There's not much left to say about Wisconsin
It's the same story every week. The quarterbacks have been wrong, and the receivers don't help much with their inability to stay open consistently. The run game is struggling and Wisconsin's offensive line isn't nearly as strong as we're used to seeing from the Badgers.
Injuries to Mertz and Ferguson only worsened the situation in the second half, but it's not like the Badgers were playing well with them. Defense is still phenomenal, but with an offense like this, it doesn't matter against any team with a pulse.
INTERCEPTED!@UMichFootball comes up with its second turnover of the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/S4k0gwpSfl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
4. An ironic day to celebrate Barry Alvarez
Wisconsin spent the weekend celebrating the man who made the program as it is today, announcing a name change to their playing surface, which will now be known as Barry Alvarez Field, at Camp Randall Stadium. It is a deserved honor for the man who put Wisconsin football on the map.
Unfortunately, Saturday's loss is the first time since 1990 that Wisconsin has started the season 1-3. That 1990 season was also Alvarez's first season at Madison. The Badgers finished 1–10 that year before Alvarez turned the program over. I am sure he is hoping that this team can do the same in 2021.