Michigan Scores 31 Unanswered Points to Defeat Rutgers in B1G Opener

Saturday, September 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

12:00 PM

Michigan

4-0 , 1-0

Rutgers

3-1 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Michigan

Semaj Morgan (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Scores 31 Unanswered Points to Defeat Rutgers in B1G Opener

9/23/2023 3:27:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Notes Participation In the Trenches: Rutgers Recap PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #2 Michigan 31, Rutgers 7
Records: U-M (4-0, 1-0), Rutgers (3-1, 1-1)
Attendance: 109,756
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 30 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 3:30 p.m. (TV: Fox)

• Postgame Press Conferences: Coach Harbaugh | Players

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team reeled off 31 unanswered points, including 24 in the second half, to open Big Ten Conference play with a 31-7 win over Rutgers on Saturday (Sept. 23) at Michigan Stadium. It was head coach Jim Harbaugh's 75th victory at Michigan in his return to the sideline.

Michigan's offense overwhelmed Rutgers with 415 yards of total offense (214 passing, 201 rushing) and converted on eight of its 13 third-down attempts. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy highlighted U-M's offensive attack through the air and from the ground, completing 15-of-21 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown, along with seven rushes for 51 yards.

Running back Blake Corum twice found the end zone on rushing scores in the first and fourth quarters for his third multi-touchdown game of the season and added 97 yards on 21 carries.

After Rutgers scored a 69-yard passing touchdown over the middle on only its third offensive play of the first quarter, the Wolverines defense allowed just 182 total yards for the remainder of the game. In all, U-M held Rutgers to 257 yards of offense, 77 on the ground.

Michigan's rally started on its second drive to tie the game midway through the first quarter and ended with a Corum two-yard rushing score -- his seventh of the season. McCarthy found running back Donovan Edwards and tight end Colston Loveland on back-to-back passes of 33 and 35 yards, respectively, to set up the scoring play.

Both the Scarlet Knights and Wolverines promoted steady downfield attacks on their next drives but resulted in missed field goal attempts by both teams -- 51 and 42 yards, respectively.

Michigan's offense closed out the first half on a high note with a steady dose of McCarthy, including a 23-yard connection with Roman Wilson followed by a 22-yard rush of his own. With only 1:41 remaining in the second quarter, McCarthy found wide receiver Semaj Morgan on a tightly-contested 18-yard pass into the end zone for his first career touchdown reception.

U-M continued to surge in the third quarter with a heavy rushing attack, including a stretch of eight straight ground plays and a vital nine-yard McCarthy scramble on fourth down. McCarthy connected with Wilson for a 25-yard reception, but the drive stalled and resulted in a 46-yard field goal from kicker James Turner.

Michigan scored its first defensive touchdown on Rutgers' next drive when defensive back Mike Sainristil picked off a screen pass in traffic and returned it 71 yards for his sixth career touchdown -- his first since moving to the defensive side of the ball -- with 4:31 remaining in the third quarter. It also was his second interception of the season.

Corum added a five-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter for his second of the game and eighth on the season -- and the Wolverines' first fourth-quarter points this season. McCarthy connected with Loveland for a 28-yard reception, tying the latter's career-long catch and giving him a career high in receiving yards (75).

Michigan held the Scarlet Knights to only 116 yards of second-half offense. The Wolverines kept Rutgers off the board for the final 59 minutes of the game, including a defensive stand on fourth-and-six on the U-M 19-yard line with 7:01 remaining in the game.

The Wolverines will hit the road for the first time this season with a matchup against Nebraska in Lincoln next Saturday (Sept. 30). The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kick and will be broadcast live on Fox.