Well, well, well.
Michigan is a team that is determined to win games, no matter what the conference governing body wants. Tony Petitti waited until less that 24 hours before kickoff to suspend Jim Harbaugh before the biggest game of the season, and it didn’t matter. The Wolverines walked into Happy Valley with a chip on their shoulder and walked out with a third consecutive win against the Nittany Lions.
The MVP for this game is clear. Michigan leaned on the run all day and was rewarded for their toughness and patience with a 26 carry, 145 yard performance from Wolverine legend Blake Corum. Easiest MVP call of the season.
This was the game Michigan fans had been waiting for all season. Vintage Blake. Michigan has been giving Corum less run this year, keeping him fresh for the final stretch and postseason, and it looks to have paid off. Saturday’s 26 carries was just the second time all season he has surpassed 16 rushes. Talk about a long term investment.
There has been concern from Wolverine fans about Corum’s injury recovery, but his breakout game against PSU should put all worries to rest. Blake cut, trucked, and rushed his way to a Wolverine victory, and put himself within six of Anthony Thomas’s all time rushing touchdown record (55).
Corum has two more regular season tests. Expect him to carry the ball around 15 times against Maryland, but turn it up for Ohio State. A big reason Corum came back this year was to get a shot and OSU, a game he has yet to be fully healthy for. Everything is set up for Corum to make a legacy statement against the Buckeyes, there’s no reason Michigan should risk injury too much against Maryland next week.