Tag: reaction

Things you may not have known about Michigan football’s win over Iowa

Great team win for the maize and blue! #GoBlue

Michigan football had a tough assignment in Week 5, traveling to Kinnick Stadium to take down an Iowa team it hasn’t beaten in a true road game since 2005. However, the Wolverines prevailed, winning 27-14, in a game that was mostly maize and blue domination, but with a little bit of drama late.

The Wolverines led 20-0entering the fourth quarter, but Iowa scored on the first play, cutting it to a two-score game. Late, Michigan gave the ball back to the Hawkeyes, who threatened with another score, but the maize and blue produced a stop in the red zone before Blake Corum punched in another touchdown to all but secure the victory.

If you were at the game in Iowa City or watching on TV, there are some things about the game you might not have known. MGoBlue.com updated its notes once the clock hit zero, with some facts, tidbits and stats that you may have not noticed coming out of the 27-14 victory.

[lawrence-related id=63606,63607]

Facts/tidbits:

• In the all-time series between Michigan and Iowa, the Wolverines now lead 44-15-4. U-M is the victor in three straight matchups, and the program is 3-1 overall against UI under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

• All-time, U-M has improved to 16-8-1 in Kinnick Stadium.

• In a contest that pitted the nation ‘s top scoring offense (50.0 points per game) against the top scoring defense (5.8 points per game allowed), Michigan ‘s offense came out on top. The Wolverines ‘ 27 points represent the most allowed by Iowa this year and the most scored on Iowa since Wisconsin totaled 27 in October of last year.

• Across the last eight quarters of action between these two teams, the Wolverines have totaled at least 172 rushing yards (211 in Big Ten Championship game, 172 today).

• Michigan scored a rushing touchdown on its opening possession (Ronnie Bell, 16 yards). It was the first rushing touchdown of Bell ‘s career. With that touchdown, the Wolverines became the first team to score on the ground this year against Iowa.

• Across its last 10 Big Ten opponents, only Michigan (today) and Nebraska (Nov. 26, 2021) have registered rushing touchdowns on their first respective drives against the Hawkeyes.

• Michigan has totaled 31 rushing touchdowns across its last nine games, including two today.

• All three of Michigan ‘s first-half scoring drives were among the five longest scoring drives this season (13 plays, 13 plays, 11 plays). The team has completed two separate 14-play scoring drives this year, both against Colorado State, along with several more 11-play scoring drives.

• Blake Corum was the second back to record 100 yards rushing against Iowa this season (Jihrel Brock, 100 yards, Iowa State). It marked Corum ‘s sixth career day with 100-plus rushing yards and his second in a row.

• The 13 points U-M scored in the first half represent the most allowed by Iowa in the first half this season. No other team had reached first-half scoring in the double digits.

• Mike Morris had a pair of sacks and now owns the outright lead of the team ‘s top position (4.0). He also leads the team with 6.0 tackles for loss.

• U-M held Iowa to 35 yards rushing. It was the first opponent U-M has held under 50 yards on the ground since Wisconsin (Oct. 2, 2021) was limited to 43 yards. It also marked the third game out of five this season that saw the U-M defense hold its opposition under 100 yards on the ground.

[listicle id=63603]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

What was the plan for Michigan football QB J.J. McCarthy vs. Iowa? Rein him in or let him make plays?

He had a nearly perfect game, yet again! #GoBlue

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Heading into Michigan football’s Week 5 contest at Iowa, the Wolverines had a choice to make: let J.J. be J.J. or corral him in so that he didn’t make a crucial mistake.

The Hawkeyes feature an opportunistic defense, one that bolsters what has been the nation’s worst offensive attack. Make a mistake while you’re on offense, and there’s a good chance that the ball is going the other way — or worse.

Against Maryland, J.J. McCarthy made more mistakes than we’d seen to date. While that one was at home, it’s a different deal on the road at Kinnick Stadium, a venue where the maize and blue hadn’t come away with a victory since 2005. On Saturday, that changed. Michigan won, 27-14, and the offense played mostly within itself, with a distinctive West Coast-style that propelled the team to victory.

Entering Saturday’s contest, McCarthy was content to take whatever the staunch Iowa defense gave him. He didn’t try forcing things, he just make the plays that were there to be made.

“Everything that he was kind of harping on me for last week, is just making me a better quarterback,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, you’re gonna get coached like crazy when you’re here, and it’s only making you better. But there’s some things with just your natural abilities where you’ve got to take what they’re giving you and some go in one ear and out the other. And just being able to improve as a quarterback in those situations of decision making and not making those big mistakes and doing everything like that. And then when it comes down to third down and I need to use my abilities and do what I do, then that comes out. So he’s just making me a better quarterback. And I’m just super grateful for him.”

McCarthy didn’t set the stat sheet on fire, as he was outdueled as far as passing yards are concerned, by Iowa QB Spencer Petras. McCarthy went 18-for-24 for 155 yards and a touchdown compared to Petras’ 21-for-31 for 246 yards and a touchdown.

But how much was Michigan balancing the idea of McCarthy either reining it in or playing his game? Head coach Jim Harbaugh said it was a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B.

“Yeah, play your game. And there’s nobody that loves that game more than I do,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, he’s better than me. But I mean, he reminds me of a young Jimmy Harbaugh.

“‘Off he goes, he drops back, and then he runs over to his left,t circles back to his right, back to his left, runs it, or throws it, to an open guy!’ Man, I love it. I just love it, love it. But, I said if it comes up, let’s just have it come up one time maybe, or no more than two. Because you’re playing against the defense that’s really, really disciplined.

“And so yeah, we talked about the importance, stressed the importance of ball security. It’s a very good strategy — field position, win the turnover battles, and they’re really tough to beat. So, we didn’t want to give them anything, we didn’t want to give them any of those type of gifts. We have one that came up and fortunately Donovan Edwards was heads up and got on that that loose ball back in our own end.

“But I thought he played a really good game, you know? And I dance a real fine line of not taking his special talent and overcoaching it. I do not want him to be a victim of overcoaching. So when it’s all said and done, it’s just, do you J.J., play your game. It’s really good. Just protect the ball!”

What was it, though, that Harbaugh told McCarthy he needed to do coming into this game?

It was a litany of things, but McCarthy took it all to heart, taking all of the correctable moments from Week 4 and applying them to Week 5.

“Just cleaning up my footwork being more consistent with that,” McCarthy said “Be decisive in my decision making checking the ball down, getting the ball into Blake’s hands, Dono’s hands, and just like the play, I had, driving down the field against Maryland, where I got a little scar from it, but just plays like that, just getting those out of my game. Realizing that you don’t have to win the play every single play. They might get us, throw the ball away and move on to the next play. So those are just huge areas of improvement that I felt like as a staff, as myself, did a really good job of improving on this game.”

Was his touchdown throw one that was more of J.J. just being J.J.? In McCarthy’s words, it appears so.

He could have run it in after he scrambled as the protection broke down, but he managed to find running back Donovan Edwards in the back of the end zone while Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean was more focused on stopping the run.

“Yeah, it was kind of just like a two-on-one matchup where I was thinking about running it,” McCarthy said. “And I just saw Dono slipped behind him and Cooper’s eyes were on me. So once it’s once I saw his eyes were on me, then it was game over.”

[listicle id=63603]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

J.J. McCarthy says that a certain 2021 award-winning unit is better in 2022

O-Line stepped up on Saturday! #GoBlue

Michigan entered Kinnick Stadium undefeated and looking to break the losing streak that the Wolverines had against Iowa on the road.

The contest looked smooth for Michigan, which entered halftime with a 13-0 lead and built a 20-0 lead in the third quarter. The outcome grew dicey when Iowa produced two fourth-quarter scores. However, the Wolverines won, 27-14, in Kinnick Stadium for the first time since 2005.

Michigan rushed for 172 yards on Saturday against Iowa. That’s the most the Hawkeyes have given up on the ground this season. In fact, Iowa entered Saturday as the No. 6 run defense in football, allowing 73 yards on the ground.

After carrying the rock 30 times last week against Maryland, Blake Corum had another big day against a really, really good defense. Corum rushed 29 times for 133 yards and a touchdown that sealed the win for the maize and blue. The Michigan offensive line pushed around the Hawkeye defensive line as the box score showed. Michigan averaged 4.1 yards-per-carry which helped moving the sticks.

Guard Trevor Keegan returned for Michigan on Saturday after being sidelined last week against Maryland. Keegan said the coaches had the offensive line prepared this week for Iowa. They knew how strong Iowa’s run defense was, but Keegan said the coaches had a lot of faith that the O-line could push Iowa around.

“No doubt, we were really prepared for that we know they’re good stopping the run,” said Keegan. “Coach had a lot of faith in us running the ball this week. You play together, you trust each other, you know, you’re gonna be pretty successful. So we had to take their juice from them. And I think we did that.”

Keegan credits the success on Saturday to having five guys that play well together. Michigan added Olu Oluwatimi from Virginia this year, and his experience has helped a lot. However, having all five original starters together again could be what capped the day. Keegan said when you have good running backs and a good quarterback behind them, it makes their job easier.

“I think it’s just you know, five guys playing together and your coaches trusting you,” said Keegan. “You have five guys who are experienced, they play a lot of ball together, you be able to handle adversity and an environment like this. So, when you got good backs, a quarterback, it makes it easier for us. So, we were playing really confident too.”

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker had another good day. Schoonmaker started his second-straight game since Erick All missed his second game with an undisclosed injury. He had four catches for 45 yards, but he was also a big part of the run game flourishing. Schoonmaker said that the offensive line has been building a callus from last year. Michigan didn’t have many big-chunk plays on the ground on Saturday, but the Wolverines averaged 4 yards-per-carry and that is what kept the chains moving.

“Yeah, I think, they’ve been building that callus from last year,” said Schoonmaker. “And it’s rolled into this year of just blowing people off the ball. And that’s been their standard. They practice like that. And when they go out and play like that, so yeah, maybe we didn’t get the big ones. But we added up the little ones, and then it turned into something great.”

The 2021 Michigan offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for being the nation’s best unit. But J.J. McCarthy believes this O-line is better than last year. While he doesn’t know how much better they are than last year, he believes they are better, and that they are a cohesive unit that will dominate whoever is in front of them.

“Thank goodness, just smiling,” said McCarthy. “I mean, this offensive line everyone talks about last year, Joe Moore, everything like that. They were a fantastic offensive line. But I think this line this year is I don’t know how much better but I know that better and just the way that they grow every single week, the way that they collaborate with each other. I mean, they love each other and it just shows out there. They’re not just a bunch of individuals out there. They’re one cohesive unit that just dominates anyone who was in front of.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=63587]

Twitter reactions: Michigan football beats Iowa

Check these out!

Michigan football ended two streaks on Saturday after it defeated Iowa, 27-14.

This was the first victory for Michigan in Kinnick since 2005 and the Wolverines went to Iowa ranked No. 4. The past five out of six times a top-5 team played in Kinnick, it lost.

The Michigan offense moved the ball efficiently against Iowa and it totaled 327 yards of offense. Michigan ran for 172 yards against the Hawkeyes — Iowa went into the game allowing 73 yards-per-game on average. But the Michigan offensive line did its job and Blake Corum had another great day toting the rock. Corum rushed for 133 yards and one score.

The Wolverines played mostly good on defense against Iowa. Michigan allowed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter — one was during garbage time — but the maize and blue allowed a ton of chunk plays in the second half. The pass rush wasn’t getting home in the first half, and late into the second half, it became noticeably good. Michigan sacked Spencer Petras four times.

As usual, Twitter reacted to the Michigan win during and after the game. Here are some of the best reactions.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=63587]

Expert Predictions: How will Florida respond to the hurricane delay?

Florida looks to tune up against its FCS opponent this Sunday. Will the lag from the storm affect their play?

It has been a rough week for the state of Florida but now that Hurricane Ian has moved on to terrorize other parts of the country, the sun has begun to shine again on north Florida. With crisis averted in Gainesville, it appears that the game against the Eastern Washington Eagles — which was moved back a day from Saturday to Sunday — is clear for kickoff at noon in the Swamp.

There is some interesting history that comes with the first meeting between the two schools, which also happens to be EWU’s first game against an SEC team as well as its debut on the Sunshine State’s turf. This game as originally a condition in Jim McElwain’s contract to coach the Gators, which was delayed by COVID and will now be played long after his departure.

The Gators Wire roundtable gathered to give its outlook for a game that should be easy on paper but has been complicated by recent events. See below what our five expert respondents had to say ahead of this weekend’s gridiron affair along with our composite prediction.

Big Ten football and big game expert predictions and picks for Week 5

It’s time for our expert picks and predictions against the spread and straight up for Week 5 in the Big Ten. We also pick the biggest other national games. #B1G

Every year (and every week of the CFB season) we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination when it comes to picking Big Ten and some of the bigger college football games.

We’ll bring you our expert picks and predictions on all the league games against the spread, and straight-up throughout the season. We’ll even give you what you didn’t know you wanted with six of the best non-Big Ten games known as our “Pick Six” now that we’ve entered the conference part of the schedule. As an added note, if there’s a tie with any of the picks, George Washington decides it via the old-fashioned coin flip.

As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover.

EXAMPLE:
– If you think Ohio State will win minus-3.5 over an opponent: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win outright: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Here are our expert picks for a juicy Week 5, but first, here are the modest results so far.

Throwback Thursday: The best moments from last year’s shootout with the Razorbacks

The plays that defined the epic matchup between Alabama and Arkansas in 2021.

We are now just a couple of days away from Alabama’s SEC showdown with the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville. It will be Alabama’s first road contest since its Sept. 10 matchup in Austin with the Texas Longhorns.

Road games have been a bit rough for the Crimson Tide over the past couple of seasons and Alabama is sure to be challenged this Saturday by the Hogs.

The 2021 matchup with Arkansas turned into a barn burner in Tuscaloosa as the Tide took the late-season contest 42-35.

Before this weekend’s contest gets underway, let’s take a look back at the fun-filled matchup from last season.

Michigan vs. Iowa: Three keys to a Michigan football victory

Here’s exactly what Michigan needs to do on Saturday. #GoBlue

The No. 4 Wolverines will hit the road for the first time this season. Michigan will travel west to Iowa City to take on the 3-1 Iowa Hawkeyes.

Michgian holds a 43-15-4 record against Iowa and the two teams squared off last season in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines handled the Hawkeyes fairly easily last season after a 42-3 victory to send the maize and blue to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

But it’s a new season and a new challenge. The Hawkeyes may have one of the worst offense’s in all of college football, but they also have one of the best — if not the best — defense.

Michigan will enter Kinnick Stadium with a more well-rounded team statistically. The Wolverines have the 19th-ranked offense and the seventh-ranked defense.

Kinnick Stadium has been rough for top-25 teams in the past and time will tell if Michigan is up to the challenge.

Here are our three keys for Michigan to keep its undefeated season alive.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=63485]

Pac-12 College Wires predictions: Week 5

Week 5 #Pac12 predictions are here from @BuffaloesWire, @TrojansWire and @Ducks_Wire

Can you believe one month of college football has already been played?

Here we are right in Week 5, and the Pac-12 Conference slate is underway. USC, Washington and UCLA are the remaining undefeated teams, although Washington State, Oregon State, Utah and Oregon all look really strong this season.

The Pac-12 College Wires teams are back once again to make predictions for Week 5. Here are how things went last week and the overall results up until this point:

  • Zac Neel (Ducks) – 6-0, 35-5
  • Jack Carlough (Buffs)  – 6-0, 35-5
  • Don Smalley (Ducks) – 4-2, 32-8
  • Matt Zemek (Trojans) – 5-1, 33-7
  • Patrick Conn (Regional Editor)  – 6-0, 34-6
  • Andy Patton (Ducks) – 5-1, 32-8
  • Matt Wadleigh (Buffs/Trojans) – 5-1, 31-9
  • Don James (Trojans) – 6-0, 32-8
  • Tony Cosolo (Buffs) – 6-0, 31-9

Let’s dive in and see who everyone picked for Week 5:

Behind Enemy Lines: A discussion about Ohio State vs. Scarlet Knights with Rutgers Wire’s Kristian Dyer

See what Rutgers fans and media members think of Ohio State and the game this weekend in our Behind Enemy Lines Q&A with @KristianRDyer. #GoBucks

It’s always nice to get an account of the upcoming Ohio State game from those inside the OSU community. The analysis and content are great on the Buckeye beat and we do our best to be a part of that and keep up.

However, we love to get a take on the next week’s opponent from the other sideline when it makes sense. And yeah — in this case — it does, because it just so happens that we have a sister site, Rutgers Wire, that breaks down all things Scarlet Knights just like we try to do here at Buckeyes Wire.

So we took advantage and got Kristian Dyer from Rutgers Wire to spend a few moments of his time for a question-and-answer session on the upcoming matchup between the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights.

Here are the questions we asked and how Dyer views things like what Rutgers thinks of Ohio State, how he sees the game unfolding, the state of things in Piscataway, and more. Bonus points too for adding a little humor and local knowledge into all the fun.

And while you are at it, if you know of someone that is a Rutgers fan, or you just want to see more content from Piscataway on coverage leading up to the game Saturday, head on over and check out our friends at Rutgers Wire.