ANN ARBOUR, MI – There isn’t much to say about the Michigan football squad these days. The second-ranked Wolverines marched to another blowout win Saturday afternoon, overcoming a 7-0 first-quarter hole to beat Indiana 52-7.
It was the Wolverines’ sixth consecutive blowout victory (4-0 Big Ten, 7-0 overall), who now have a 276-47 scoring advantage this season, including a 180-31 difference in Big Ten play. JJ McCarthy, Michigan’s starting quarterback, has only attempted four passes in the fourth quarter this season, while Blake Corum, the team’s starting running back, has just four carries in the fourth quarter. This season, no team has pushed the ball inside Michigan’s 10-yard line. Indiana got to the 10, but quickly gave up a sack, a false start penalty, and an interception on the next three plays.
Even if Michigan began their dominance at 12:45 ET, rather than the kickoff time of 12:10, the Wolverines dominated another league opponent.
“It’s like coach always says,” linebacker Michael Barrett remarked after the game. “‘We’re in the ass-kicking business, and business is booming.'”
Yes, it is. Even Michigan’s sharpest detractors must acknowledge Michigan’s overwhelming run at this point. Its closest game this season was a 31-7 victory against Rutgers, in which the Wolverines outgained the Scarlet Knights 415-182 after the game’s first drive, converted 10 of 13 third- or fourth-down opportunities, and controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes.
Michigan has said all the right things about remaining modest, identifying areas for improvement, and remaining focused on goals for later in the season. But, to be honest, the Wolverines are playing so brilliantly that identifying areas for improvement may be more difficult than the games themselves.
“I feel like just all the guys (are) buying in to, you know, actually learning everything and really taking the time to come in and watch extra film,” Barrett went on to say. “All we need is to be able to take our learning to the next level, the 300-level.” Instead of making a little error, you may simply continue from there.
Michigan has now won 32 of its previous 35 games, including 23 consecutive regular-season games and a program-record 19 consecutive games versus Big Ten opponents. The Wolverines are 7-0 for the third consecutive season and have allowed the fewest points (47) through seven games since surrendering 30 in their first seven games 50 years ago.
Only 30 of those scores have come against Michigan starters, demonstrating the Wolverines’ ability to smother opponents’ run games while progressively becoming stronger and more effective in the pass-rush and in coverage.
“Over the course of the game, you start to see some of their passion diminish,” said safety Keon Sabb. “Boa constrictor-like.” You want to keep putting pressure all the time until the game is over.
“Yeah, my favourite thing is just watching their hope slowly fade away,” Barrett added. Seeing that struggle fade away from them and come to the point where they’re simply like, let’s go home. That’s one of my favourite sensations. When you can feel that additional energy fading.”
Still, Michigan is aware that its past two Big Ten championships were won in November and December rather than October. The Wolverines returned 15 primary starters and numerous important rotation players from last year’s squad, giving them a leadership core concerned that if Michigan plateaus now, its season would not finish with a Big Ten title or a national championship.
Even while the Wolverines are feasting on their opponents, that drive has left Michigan’s locker room hungry.
“It’s everything that we expect out of ourselves,” quarterback JJ McCarthy said. “We’re not out here trying to impress anyone but ourselves.” There is still much to be done. This game has still taught us a lot. So, you know, we’re just trying to improve, focus on the next step, and stay in the moment.”
The next step will be a trip to East Lansing to face rival Michigan State. The Wolverines have performed as well as any team in the country thus far, but they don’t believe they are yet the best versions of themselves.
“Every game is a challenge, but it’s like a challenge to, you know, you know, we’re chasing perfection,” tight end Colston Loveland said. “So, you know, we’re never happy with you know, there’s always things to clean up.” So I think that’s the task for us: to be as freakish and flawless as we possibly can.
“Stuff will happen, adversity will come, but we want to try to be the adversity.” We want to be the tyrant.”
