Michigan avoided arguing that one of the worst losses of the Jim Harbaugh era would have been the one that flowed back from a first-half loss and survived a triple overtime with a 4-48-4 victory at Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights entered the game as heavy underdogs but took a 17-0 lead before the quarterback change helped the Wolverines get back into the game. It was Cad McNamara who took charge of Mil Milton and the offense found little life, cutting the lead before halftime and maintaining momentum in the front and rear game in the second half. McNamara finished with four touchdowns with zero interruptions passing 26-yards and 27-of-36, teamed up with Cornelius Jackson for two of those scores and helped guide the offense through that tight overtime asset.
But McNamara’s performance on the back was almost not enough, as Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral was also dialed to let this disturbing opportunity go away from the Scarlet Knights. Vedral literally kept the defenders in regulation with less than reg0 seconds on a two-point change in game-tie, while he avoided the fourth-ranked defenders for a touchdown.
He finished with 8,378 passing yards and three touchdowns, but no yards or scores at the end of those rules would be as meaningful as those plays that both started life for the Rutgers and sowed the seeds of doubt for the Michigan team that apparently regained control. Game after halftime.
The first overtime focused on the chess match between Jim Harbo and Greg Shiano. Facing fourth and 2 on the first possession of overtime, Harboff decided to miss the field goal, which he missed. After that, only one field goal was needed to win, Rutgers played a third and longest run to avoid turnover and made a convenient spot in the center of the field for his potential game-winning field goal, just to miss it. . .
The Rutgers only scored on the first game of the second overtime on a Huskins Vedral pass, but then reacted with a game-bound touchdown from McNamara to push Michigan into third overtime. At the same time when Hassan Huskins, who led Michigan with 112 rushing yards in the game, jumped to the line on the fourth and goal, it would prove to be a game-winning touchdown.
The win would not be sealed until the Rutgers had a chance to respond, and Michigan’s interval in the final zone ended Scarlett Knights’ upset bid.
Even when Michigan tried to take the win to a 2-3, it’s still surprising that she looked just like the Rutgers, whose team dominated the Big Ten for most of their time together. The Wolverines have now won six straight in the series, but this triple-overtime decision stands in stark contrast to results such as 52-0 in 2019, 42-7 in 2018 or 78-0 in 2016. The right direction would continue, but the discomfort was averted with less enthusiasm in mind.
What’s good for Michigan is the emergence of McNamara and how crime leads to charges with it. There are home dates ahead of the Wolverines against Pella State and Maryland, both of which provide opportunities for Saturday night’s success before the end of the expected regular season against Ohio State.
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