Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil (0) celebrates his interception with Will Johnson (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against East Carolina on Saturday, September 2, 2023, in Ann Arbour, Mich. (AP
Photographer: Paul Sancya)
Michigan is 6-0 at the midway mark of the regular season and shows no signs of slowing down. This season, the average score of a Michigan game is around 37-7.
In nonconference play, the Wolverines crushed East Carolina, UNLV, and Bowling Green, and have had similar results in Big Ten play against Rutgers, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Indiana follows on Saturday at 12:10 p.m. ET at Michigan Stadium.
Here are some of Michigan’s most startling numbers thus far.
destroying the competition
This season, the Wolverines have played 360 minutes of football. They’ve been behind for 8 minutes and 4 seconds.
On the third play from scrimmage in the Big Ten opener against Rutgers on September 23, Michigan fell behind 7-0. Michigan tied the game with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter and hasn’t trailed a game since.
This season, every other team in the country, including No. 1 Georgia and the 12 other unbeaten teams, has trailed in the second quarter or later.
This season, only Oregon and Oklahoma have trailed in the fourth quarter of games, while having (slightly) bigger average margins of victory than Michigan. The Wolverines haven’t even cracked a sweat.
Defence that is dominant
The Wolverines rank top in the nation in scoring defence, allowing only 6.7 points per game. They’ve only allowed four touchdowns and four field goals.
And consider this: A pass thrown by a Michigan opponent this year has resulted in a touchdown for Michigan more frequently than a touchdown for the opponent. If necessary, reread that. Michigan has three touchdown interception returns while allowing only two throwing scores.
Only Oregon and Oklahoma have trailed in the fourth quarter of games this season, while having (slightly) larger average margins of victory than Michigan. The Wolverines have yet to break a sweat.
The dominating defence
The Wolverines have the best scoring defence in the country, allowing only 6.7 points per game. Only four touchdowns and four field goals have been permitted.
J.J. McCarthy appears to be ahead of a few quarterbacks in the Heisman Trophy standings, but he’s been tremendously efficient and effective in directing the Michigan offence. McCarthy is top in the USA in ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (QBR), which ranks quarterbacks on all play types on a 0-100 scale adjusted for the level of opposition defences encountered.
If he maintains his 93.6 rating at the end of the season, he would have the fifth highest single-season rating in the metric’s history, dating back to its creation in 2004. McCarthy is followed by two Heisman Trophy winners and two others who were finalists for the trophy.
Running back Blake Corum leads the country with 10 running touchdowns, while wide receiver Roman Wilson is tied for third with eight touchdown catches, one behind the top. Wilson is averaging 17.4 yards per reception, while teammate Cornelius Johnson is averaging 19 yards per catch.
The offensive line, which has been rated the finest in the country the previous two years, might make it a three-peat. Michigan’s offence has recorded the fewest negative yards in the league. The three sacks allowed tie for second place.]
