The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 15 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2021 — Blake Corum broke free for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns to pace the Wolverines in a 31-10 nonconference victory over Washington at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 11, 2021. Corum dashed 67 yards on a second-quarter run for the game's first touchdown, helping Michigan take a 10-0 lead at the half. The Wolverines then stretched the margin to 17-0 on a 7-yard Corum run in the third quarter before the Huskies finally got on the scoreboard with a field goal to make it 17-3. Washington scored its only touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Michigan bracketed it with a 6-yard Hassan Haskins TD bolt and Corum's 4-yard scoring plunge. The Wolverines' one-two punch of Corum and Haskins sim- ply overwhelmed the Huskies, behind a strong offensive line ef- fort. Corum's 171 yards came on 21 carries, while Haskins added 155 more on 27 carries for a 326-yard total. Michigan's defense handled its business as well, with Aidan Hutchinson racking up 2.5 sacks and Brad Hawkins forcing a fumble. Washington absorbed 4 sacks by the Michigan defense and rushed for only 50 total yards. "We're going to remain humble because we really haven't done anything yet," Corum said. "We have more to do and more to prove. I can't wait to see how far we go." 10 YEARS AGO, 2016 — Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines ham- mered Penn State in a Big Ten opener, 49-10 on Sept. 24, 2016. The Wolverines overwhelmed the Nittany Lions with 6 rushing touchdowns to go with 6 sacks on defense. This one left a late-September sellout crowd at Michigan Stadium with few worries, as the Wolverines piled up a 28-0 halftime lead and eventually scored 14 points in three separate quarters. Michigan outgained Penn State 515-191 and allowed the Nittany Lions a mere 50 first-half yards en route to a 4-0 record. The Wolverines rushed for 326 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt, and De'Veon Smith, Karan Higdon (twice), Ty Isaac, Chris Evans and Khalid Hill all rumbled for touchdowns in the conference-opening victory. Michigan's 6 sacks on defense came amid 13 tackles for loss. "I started laughing looking at the play call because they do the same signal, the same number, every time, and the linemen were getting so excited, and we were getting 8 or 9 a pop," Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight said. "When that happens, it's de- moralizing for a defense. That would suck, every single play, just having someone run you over. That builds our confidence and probably makes them lose confidence." 25 YEARS AGO, 2001 — Michigan needed some trickery to spur the offense in a Big Ten clash against Illinois on Sept. 29, 2001. But once the Wolverines got rolling, the floodgates opened in a 45-20 victory that marked 20 consecutive years that Michi- gan earned a victory in the conference opener. The Illini took a 3-0 lead inside Michigan Stadium while the Wolverines struggled through four straight possessions with- out a first down. Head coach Lloyd Carr's crew then drew up some sleight of hand to ignite its offense, as redshirt freshman Jermaine Gonzales subbed in at quarterback to fire a cross-field lateral to wideout Marquise Walker, who then threw it back to Gonzales for a 51-yard gain. Running back Walter Cross then tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Walker for a 7-3 Wolverines lead. Illinois took a 10-7 advantage in the second quarter before the Wolverines began pouring it on – scoring 21 straight second- quarter points for a 28-10 halftime advantage. Michigan starting quarterback John Navarre threw for 187 yards and a touchdown, and B.J. Askew led all rushers with 80 yards and 2 touchdowns. Illinois' QB Kurt Kittner tried to answer with 244 passing yards, but the Wolverines held the Fighting Illini to a paltry 25 rushing yards to maintain control. "Those sting the defense," Navarre said of Michigan's trick plays. "It takes the life right out of them. We needed something to give us a spark." — John Borton THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY Michigan running back Blake Corum dices through the Washington defense en route to 171 rushing yards in a 31-10 victory over the Huskies at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 11, 2021. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL