The Michigan Wolverines are looking more and more like the playoff-contending team that they envisioned when they brought Jim Harbaugh over. The 12th-ranked team turned to their run game and totaled 320 yards on the ground to roll past No. 15 Wisconsin at home, 38-13, on Saturday night. Shea Patterson totaled 214 yards, 124 through the air, 90 on the ground, and did not turn the ball over, as the Wolverines remained perfect on their home field and won for a sixth straight time since a season-opening loss to Notre Dame.
That opening loss was a seven-point defeat to then-No. 12 Fighting Irish, who have since moved up to No. 5 in the AP Polls. Their win on Saturday night was their first against a ranked team since they defeated the Badgers two years ago. Karan Higdon led the rushing attack with 105 yards and a touchdown, which was the first score of the game in the second quarter.
Coming in to play, the Badgers had won 17 straight regular season conference games, and 10 in a row on the road overall, but their playoff hopes basically came to an end with this defeat, which was their second of the year. Their senior quarterback, Alex Hornibrook threw for just 100 yards on 7-of-20 passing with a touchdown, which came with just 3:47 to play in the game. He did have two interceptions on the night, one of which that Lavert Hill returned 35 yards for a touchdown that made it 31-7.
The Wolverines would add on when backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey ran in for a 44-yard touchdown, which pushed the lead to 38-7. The Badgers' offense could never find a groove, including their quarterback throwing 12 consecutive incompletions at one point. Their star rusher, Jonathan Taylor, finished with 101 yards on 17 carries. He was averaging 169.8 yards per game entering Saturday night.
The Wolverines move on to another big game on the road against their in-state rivals, Michigan State. Wisconsin may not be ranked when they play host to Illinois next week.
That opening loss was a seven-point defeat to then-No. 12 Fighting Irish, who have since moved up to No. 5 in the AP Polls. Their win on Saturday night was their first against a ranked team since they defeated the Badgers two years ago. Karan Higdon led the rushing attack with 105 yards and a touchdown, which was the first score of the game in the second quarter.
Coming in to play, the Badgers had won 17 straight regular season conference games, and 10 in a row on the road overall, but their playoff hopes basically came to an end with this defeat, which was their second of the year. Their senior quarterback, Alex Hornibrook threw for just 100 yards on 7-of-20 passing with a touchdown, which came with just 3:47 to play in the game. He did have two interceptions on the night, one of which that Lavert Hill returned 35 yards for a touchdown that made it 31-7.
The Wolverines would add on when backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey ran in for a 44-yard touchdown, which pushed the lead to 38-7. The Badgers' offense could never find a groove, including their quarterback throwing 12 consecutive incompletions at one point. Their star rusher, Jonathan Taylor, finished with 101 yards on 17 carries. He was averaging 169.8 yards per game entering Saturday night.
The Wolverines move on to another big game on the road against their in-state rivals, Michigan State. Wisconsin may not be ranked when they play host to Illinois next week.
