ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football had two jobs above all else on Saturday, the penultimate week of the regular college football season: win and stay healthy.
Well, about that.
The Wolverines jumped out to an early start against Illinois, appearing to look like they would pour on the best defense they had faced all season. The Illini entered the game with the nation’s sixth-best run defense, and star running back Blake Corum raced out for a big gain and explosive play on the first play from scrimmage. The maize and blue scored on the possession, but that was the only one in the first half.
The worst part of all was that Corum took an apparent helmet to the knee as the Wolverines were driving, coughing up the ball while heading to the locker room. Not encouraging news for the star player given that Ohio State is up next.
In the second half, Corum came back for a few plays, but the Wolverines were extremely decimated on the offensive side of the ball. The defense had some uncharacteristic second-half lapses which led to Illinois taking the lead and holding it the entire fourth quarter until there were nine seconds left.
Michigan prevailed, 19-17. Here are our five takeaways from the game.