ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jim Harbaugh’s return to the sideline coincided with No. 2 Michigan playing his favorite way, establishing the run and slowing down opponents on the bottom.
Blake Corum ran for 2 touchdowns and 97 yards on 21 carries, helping the Wolverines draw back and beat Rutgers 31-7 on Saturday with Harbaugh coaching after his school-imposed three-game suspension for NCAA recruiting infractions.
Michigan had 201 yards rushing, averaging 5 yards a carry, and gave up just 3.3 yards per run for a complete of 77 yards.
“That’s the type of game Bo Schembechler would’ve been really pleased with,” said Harbaugh, who played quarterback for the late coach within the mid-Eighties.
The Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) began slow and didn’t take their first lead until late within the second quarter when J.J. McCarthy threw a tiebreaking, 18-yard touchdown pass to Semaj Morgan.
Michigan went ahead by 17 points on Mike Sainristil’s 71-yard interception return with 4:31 left within the third quarter, two plays after officials waved off a flag against the Wolverines.
The Scarlet Knights (3-1, 1-1) took a 7-0 lead on the third snap of the sport on Gavin Wimsatt’s 69-yard touchdown pass to Christian Dremel, but they missed probabilities to attain more in each quarter.
“You’ll be able to’t really miss opportunities against a team like that,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said.
Corum capped a 94-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to assist Michigan pull right into a tie on its second possession.
“Rutgers went up 7-0 and we knew we would have liked to attain only for the energy,” Corum said. “That second drive was an enormous a part of the sport.”
McCarthy was 15 of 21 for 214 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers, every week after throwing a career-high three interceptions.
Wimsatt went 11 of 21 for 180 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He ran six times for 28 yards.
Kyle Monangai ran for 27 yards on 11 carries for the Scarlet Knights.
“They’re very gap sound, they’re a disciplined team, they’re physical,” Monangai said. “Anybody who does that, it’s going to be hard to run the ball against.”
