Michigan 31, BYU 0
Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog
Over the last eight years, Michigan fans have been trained to expect the worst.
Let it be noted that at 2:04 this afternoon, with a half of football left to play, Brian told me to post muppets when the game ended.
To call this a dominant outing undersells Michigan's performance. The Wolverines outgained BYU 448-105. The Cougars eked past the century mark only on their last drive of the game; that represented their only drive that didn't end in a punt.
While the defense shut down BYU, the offense found their footing, scoring all 31 points in the first half on five consecutive drives. Amara Darboh did a spectacular Odell Beckham Jr. impression, then Jim Harbaugh dialed up a double fake screen to free up Khalid Hill up the seam to set up a three-yard touchdown scramble by Jake Rudock. Michigan went up 14-0 on a methodical 10-play, 90-yard drive capped by a short touchdown pass to Darboh.
The next scoring drive went a little quicker thanks to De'Veon Smith, who burrowed into a pile, popped out the other side, then threw a BYU defensive back to the ground in the open field for a 60-yard touchdown.
"I don't know what he did," said Rudock of Smith's run. "But whatever he did, I was hype and happy for him."
Smith finished with 125 yards on 16 carries before exiting early with an ankle injury. He said after the game he expects to play next week. Rudock had his best game as a Wolverine, going 14-for-25 for 194 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers.
Another Rudock touchdown scramble, this one from 17 yards out, and a 40-yard Kenny Allen field goal capped off the scoring.
Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog
Meanwhile, the defense made BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum's life miserable. Mangum threw for only 55 yards on 28 attempts; his longest completion came on BYU's first drive when a should-be pick took a fortuitous bounce off Channing Stribling's hands. The cornerbacks played lockdown coverage when Mangum had time to throw, which was rare—Michigan recorded three sacks and had Mangum on the run all day. By the end of the game, he was bailing out of perfectly clean pockets.
BYU's top running back, Adam Hine, broke one carry outside for 29 yards and managed only four on his seven other carries. The Cougars finished with 2.1 yards per play. This may stand as Michigan's most impressive defensive performance since the vaunted 2006 unit, even when accounting for the freshman at quarterback.
It's okay to be encouraged. While BYU had more than their fair share of luck through three games, nobody—not even ninth-ranked UCLA—made them look remotely this inept. The same team that put up 405 yards on the Bruins last week only managed a hundred today because Michigan's backups couldn't run out the clock.
"I had a couple occasions to look up and go 'this is good,'" said Harbaugh.
He was far from alone in that regard.
September 26th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
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September 27th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
Great Win.. next Saturday I get to drive 8.5 hours instead of 45 mins!!!!!!
September 26th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
DURKIN DONUT
September 26th, 2015 at 6:36 PM ^
I haven't been able to find it anywhere...
September 26th, 2015 at 10:28 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 12:53 AM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 6:47 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:06 PM ^
tears of joy at the end of the first half. Harbaugh! Harbaugh!
September 26th, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
BYU has a pretty good punter.
September 26th, 2015 at 6:08 PM ^
We noticed their punter was from New Zealand, and after the game he and Blake O'Neil talking to each other. Maybe they went to the same punting school?
September 26th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^
Well I'm pretty sure everyone in Oceania knows each other.
September 26th, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
In a DetNews article about Blake O'Neill:
Now, he's Michigan's starting punter, part of a growing number of Australians who have become college football kickers in the United States after training at ProKick Academy back home.
"We're all good mates," O'Neill said.
ProKick develops Australian kickers into American-style kickers and helps them earn scholarships to college programs here.
Seems reasonable a kid from New Zealand could train there too.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
I think when you grow up playing rugby it just ends up being something you're naturally good at. Kind of like how the best American soccer players end up being keepers because we're about more used to hand sports.
September 26th, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
Pretty sure Peppers may have gotten dong punched. I remember him grabbing his junk on the sidelines and grimacing a bit.
September 27th, 2015 at 3:37 AM ^
So there is a reward for not committing personal fouls?
September 26th, 2015 at 4:09 PM ^
Upvotes for everybody!
September 26th, 2015 at 4:09 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:10 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 9:37 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 9:45 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^
Welcome back Michigan Football.
September 27th, 2015 at 8:52 PM ^
With how good Utah is looking Michigan Football might've been back in Game 1
September 26th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 6:17 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:30 PM ^
Any chants? 31-0 against a top 25 team speaks loudly enough.
September 26th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
...to watch Michigan play hard on both sides of the ball.
...to cheer Amara Darboh on a special day for him.
...to witness defensive dominance unmatched since Clausen 4 Heisman in '07.
...to improve week-to-week.
...to be a Michigan Wolverine!
GO BLUE!
September 26th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
You missed the 1997 beat down in Happy Valley.
September 26th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
Remember when people were freaking out after the UNLV game? Good times. Great win and this team looks like it's on track for a 9-3 regular season.
September 26th, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:20 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 4:20 PM ^
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September 26th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
Is it even legal to show that kind of carnage on broadcast TV?
September 27th, 2015 at 8:53 PM ^
FCC fines are being prepared as we speak
September 26th, 2015 at 4:24 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:26 PM ^
Hope Jack Rudock takes less pounding next time. We need him for the full season!
September 26th, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^
It's. Great. To. Be. A. Michigan. Wolverine. HAIL yes! GO Blue! God bless Jim Harbaugh & Co.
September 26th, 2015 at 4:28 PM ^
September 26th, 2015 at 4:29 PM ^
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