The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 11 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 2021 Changed Everything By Chris Balas Comparing these two wins is like picking your favorite twin — they're both incredible and you love them the same. But we said last year the 42-27 win in 2021 had a chance to be like the 1969 matchup in its im- portance — a huge upset that could set the stage for more and rekindle a one-sided rivalry. Nobody really saw it com- ing, but the Wolverines believed, conquered … and, more importantly, left no doubt. There was nothing flukish about it, and it provided the belief that they could do it again (and, hopefully, again next year). It was the most important U-M victory in years. Winning this year in the fashion they did was a direct result of what happened last year. Knowing they could go into Columbus and win is different than hoping. And while the venue was daunting, head coach Jim Harbaugh was right when he said in the preseason his team "wouldn't flinch" when they went down there. And they didn't. The Wolverines essentially dominated the 2021 game from start to finish, leaving no doubt. Hassan Haskins and his 5 touchdowns and elite play from edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo led to complete domination. And when everyone said it would be a one-time thing after guys like them and others left, it wasn't — in large part be- cause there were numerous others who contributed to the victory who knew what it took to beat them. The rivalry is back because of that win on a beautiful, snowy day in Ann Arbor. 2022 Was The More Impressive Victory By Clayton Sayfie There's nothing like the scene at The Big House that ensued after the Wolverines' 42-27 win over Ohio State in 2021. But this season's 45-23 triumph over the Buckeyes — particularly the sec- ond half — was one of the best performances in program history. Michigan scored 5 touchdowns of 45-plus yards, forced 2 red-zone field goals and notched 2 interceptions in the masterpiece, before planting the "M" flag at midfield in celebration. The Wolverines outscored the second-ranked Buckeyes 28-3 after halftime, following a first half in which it stayed in the game with big-play touchdowns. Doing that without Heisman Trophy contender in junior running back Blake Corum, and an injury-limited sophomore Donovan Edwards, made it all the more improbable. Doing it in Columbus was no easy feat, either. The Buckeyes hadn't lost a Big Ten home game since 2015, having won 29 straight at the Horseshoe. Michigan hadn't won at the venue since 2000. It was the largest margin of victory by U-M over Ohio State since 1993 and the biggest in Columbus since 1976. The 2021 triumph was Michigan's first in 10 years, a sweet one. But the 2022 victory marked a turning of the tide in the rivalry. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is now 1-2 against the Maize and Blue, and suddenly U-M head man Jim Har- baugh has the Buckeyes' number. Michigan established itself as the class of the Big Ten that afternoon in Columbus, show- ing it can not only break through but sustain its excellence. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT WHICH MICHIGAN VICTORY OVER OHIO STATE WAS BETTER — 2021 OR 2022? With the Associated Press, American Football Coaches As- sociation, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writ- ers Association of America and Sporting News all naming Michigan running back Blake Corum to their first teams, the junior became the 25th individual in program history to earn unanimous All-America honors. He's the third player in the head coach Jim Harbaugh era to earn the distinction — joining linebacker Jabrill Peppers (2016) and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (2021) — and the eighth in the last 30 years, along with defensive back Charles Wood- son (1997), offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson (2000), wide receiver Braylon Edwards (2004), defensive lineman LaMarr Woodley (2006) and offensive lineman Jake Long (2007). Corum is the Maize and Blue's first running back to earn the honor since Bob Chappuis in 1947. Bob Daley (1943) and Tom Harmon (1940) are Michigan's other ball carriers to be named unanimous first-team All-Americans. Chris Perry was named the Doak Walker Award winner (nation's top running back) in 2003 but was left off the first team by one selector and thus not a unanimous All-American. For a second straight season, Michigan has multiple consensus first-team All-Americans, with graduate center Olusegun Olu- watimi joining Corum with that honor. Oluwatimi was named to the first team by four outlets and the second team by the AP. A player is named a consensus All-American when he lands on the first team of at least three recognized selectors' lists. That makes nine consensus All-Americans during Har- baugh's tenure, compared to one under former head man Brady Hoke from 2011-14 (offensive lineman David Molk, 2011) and none under Rich Rodriguez from 2008-11. The Maize and Blue had just one such honoree, Molk, in an eight-year span from 2008-15. The current seven-year run from Lewis in 2016 to Corum and Oluwatimi in 2022 is the Wolverines' best since having nine from 2004-07. Here's a look at Michigan's consensus All-Americans (unan- imous picks have asterisks) in Harbaugh's eight seasons: Year Players 2016 LB Jabrill Peppers*, DB Jourdan Lewis, TE Jake Butt 2017 DL Maurice Hurst 2018 LB Devin Bush 2021 DE Aidan Hutchinson*, K Jake Moody 2022 RB Blake Corum*, OL Olusegun Oluwatimi — Clayton Sayfie Examining Michigan's Run Of Consensus All-Americans, Blake Corum's Unanimous Honor 45 23 42 27