If you have been following Michigan football this season, you have probably noticed the team has won a couple of big games. These games have come against Georgia Tech and Ohio State. This week, they take on Army.
The game against Ohio State
Michigan’s 45-23 victory over Ohio State in the Horseshoe was impressive. The Michigan faithful got their money’s worth, and the team will be on its way to the Big Ten championship next weekend.
But there were some things that were not so pretty. The Ohio State defense made some big plays, but Michigan’s offense had to make up for it. In the end, the Buckeyes were beaten for the first time in Columbus since 2000.
Michigan scored on its first offensive play. Cornelius Johnson ran 70 yards for a touchdown. It was a long play, but the Ohio State defense couldn’t stop him.
Ohio State scored on its next drive. It was a seven-play, 81-yard drive that covered the ground in less than eight minutes. It was also the longest touchdown drive of the game.
Ohio State’s second score was a 32-yard field goal. The field goal was a nice touch, but it wasn’t the most impressive of the day.
Game against Rutgers
Rutgers and Michigan are two of the oldest programs in college football. They are also two teams that have played each other every year since 2014. They have had plenty of memorable moments over the years.
Last season started off with a late start after a COVID-19 penalty. It was then that Rutgers was outscored in the first half by Michigan. The Scarlet Knights entered the game ranked 121st in total offense.
In the second half, the Michigan defense held Rutgers to just 57 yards. The Wolverines scored 28 points in the third quarter. After Rutgers missed a 45-yard field goal, Michigan needed only 10 yards to put the game away.
Despite being a huge underdog, Michigan won the game. Will Johnson, a freshman corner, played well in his first career start. He had an interception and also returned the ball for a touchdown.
Michigan will take care of business this week against a Rutgers team that hasn’t had a home advantage in the last eight games. They are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The game against Georgia Tech
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have a lot of reasons to be happy. They have a shot at a bowl game. And they have a chance to win a game in the SEC for the first time in four years. It’s a win that will give them more credibility among the committee.
There’s also a chance they could go 10-6 and set the record for most wins in the Georgia Tech program history. That would be a rare feat.
However, the Yellow Jackets aren’t the only team in the SEC with that goal. Mississippi State has the same chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff with a victory. This game won’t decide if the Bulldogs are the best team in the country.
For the past three weeks, Georgia has been the top-ranked team in the nation. If they win the Georgia Tech game, they’ll carry that ranking into the SEC Championship Game.
Michigan is the second-best team in the conference, but their win over Purdue should help boost their resume. They have wins over two ranked teams, which should be enough to qualify them for the College Football Playoff.
Game against Army
Michigan football fans can now exhale after their team beat Army 24-21 in double overtime on Saturday afternoon. It wasn’t a perfect game by any means, but Michigan’s defense stepped up when they were needed most and took advantage of the Army triple-option offense.
In the first half, Michigan went into the intermission with a sluggish offensive attack. The offensive line failed twice to convert critical fourth downs, and Shea Patterson and Ben VanSumeren both lost fumbles. After the first two turnovers, Army was able to put together an 11-play, 40-yard drive for a go-ahead touchdown.
On the next drive, Army took over at the Michigan 20-yard line. DeAndre Hopkins scored on a 1-yard run. This marked the Black Knights’ first touchdown since their 14-7 win over Rice in Week 1.
At the start of the second quarter, Army’s defense punched above its weight against Michigan’s offensive line. The defense forced a fumble at the five-yard line. Despite the fumble, Army’s defense forced Michigan to kick a field goal.
