The buildup to the top-10 matchup between No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Penn State turned back the clock to the 1990s matchups between the Wolverines and Nittany Lions.
It’s fitting the Wolverines won that with a formula that still works in modern times at Michigan Stadium.
Run the ball. Stop the run. That’s still Big Ten football in any era.
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy said coach Jim Harbaugh put it as only he could in the locker room afterward.
“It was a butt-kicking in every which way a butt could be kicked.”
#Michigan QB @jjmccarthy09 on the postgame message from @CoachJim4UM” “that was a butt-kicking every way a but could be kicked” pic.twitter.com/Lf8dYDqqiw
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) October 15, 2022
With a running start, of course. Michigan hammered Penn State 41-17 with 418 rushing yards behind the tag-team of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. While it might seem like Harbaugh’s watch is set back in the 1970s, 80s or 90s, this remains the Wolverines best bet to compete for a Big Ten championship and return to the College Football Playoff.
This is the can-you-stop-it-plan around McCarthy, and there is no disputing it works for Michigan (7-0). Penn State (5-1) ranked fifth in the FBS in rushing defense (79.6 ypg.) coming into the programs’ first top-10 matchup since 1997.
The Wolverines won that game 34-8 and split a national championship. We’re not ready to go there yet, but Michigan’s rushing attack can offset No. 2 Ohio State and its passing attack ahead of what could be the best version of The Game since 2006.
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) October 15, 2022
Consider the first half against Penn State. With 8:41 left in the second quarter, Michigan had a 13-0 lead – which might not seem like much. Yet the Wolverines had run 35 plays, including 28 inside Penn State territory. That allowed J.J. McCarthy to settle in to his first top-10 start.
Even when the Nittany Lions took a 14-13 lead with the help of a 63-yard run by Sean Clifford that set up a touchdown and a 47-yard interception return for a score by Curtis Jacobs, the Wolverines just kept running. And running. And running …
Michigan broke the game open with big plays in the running game. Edwards, who finished with 173 yards, broke off a 67-yard TD. Corum, who finished with 166 yards, added a 61-yard TD. That was the ball game. McCarthy added seven carries for 57 yards.
Penn State freshman Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 12 carries for 35 yards. The Wolverines out-gained the Nittany Lions 563-268.
Harbaugh has the clock set where it normally is during his successful seasons. Through seven games, the Wolverines average 241.7 yards per game. That would be Harbaugh’s most-successful rushing attack between his tenures at Stanford and Michigan.
When Harbaugh’s teams average 200 yards rushing per game, good things happen.
| YEAR | SCHOOL | YARDS | RECORD |
| 2022 | Michigan | 241.7 | 7-0 |
| 2009 | Stanford | 218.2 | 8-5 |
| 2010 | Stanford | 213.8 | 12-1 |
| 2016 | Michigan | 213.3 | 10-3 |
| 2018 | Michigan | 203.8 | 10-3 |
| 2021 | Michigan | 214.4 | 12-2 |
Stanford’s offense revolved around Toby Gerhart and first-year starter Andrew Luck in 2009 before Luck was the focus in 2010 with 200-plus rushing yards behind him.
What about the Michigan team? The 2016 and 2018 teams were good, but not good enough to win at Ohio Stadium. The 2021 team beat the Buckeyes 42-27 with 394 rushing yards last year. This game felt like that one, and that raises the stakes for the Nov. 26 showdown at The Shoe.
Now, we can ask some four fun questions.
Will this be the first 11-0 vs. 11-0 matchup since the legendary No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in 2006? Both teams will be favored by double digits in every game leading up to the finale.
Will Michigan’s running game or Ohio State’s passing game led by C.J. Stroud prevail? The Buckeyes still have an offense that averages 48.8 points and 543.7 yards per game along with first-round picks all over the skill positions. It is the same challenge.
Will McCarthy be the first Wolverines quarterback since Drew Henson in 2000 to win at Ohio Stadium? With that running game, this gives McCarthy the best chance to be that quarterback. The last two Michigan quarterbacks who tried at The Shoe – Wilton Speight and Shea Patterson – were not as talented as McCarthy.
Will new Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ defense have an answer for that Wolverines running attack? We cannot wait to find out the answer to that one because that will determine who goes to Indianapolis.
It’s tempting to ask all those questions now knowing full well the Wolverines have a bye week before their next rivalry game against Michigan State at the Big House on Oct. 29. The Spartans have beat Michigan the last two years, so don’t count on Harbaugh to set the clock ahead to the Buckeyes any time soon. At least that’s what his offensive line told him.
Jim Harbaugh said when he congratulated Michigan’s offensive line on today’s performance, they responded “It’s on to State, coach.”
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) October 15, 2022
Saturday might have been a butt-kicking, but those linemen had a message that will resonate for one direction the next two weeks.
“It’s on to State, coach.”
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