Thirty minutes before Michigan was set to 
Thirty minutes before Michigan was set to 

kick off against No. 13 Wisconsin on Saturday 
kick off against No. 13 Wisconsin on Saturday 
night, senior safety Brad Hawkins walked to 
night, senior safety Brad Hawkins walked to 
the back left corner of the end zone and knelt 
the back left corner of the end zone and knelt 
to offer up a prayer. If it had anything to do 
to offer up a prayer. If it had anything to do 
with football, it was not answered.
with football, it was not answered.

By halftime, the Wolverines trailed, 28-0 
By halftime, the Wolverines trailed, 28-0 

— their largest halftime deficit in Michigan 
— their largest halftime deficit in Michigan 
Stadium’s 94-year history. When the game 
Stadium’s 94-year history. When the game 
came to its merciful conclusion two hours 
came to its merciful conclusion two hours 
later, the score had ballooned to 49-11 and the 
later, the score had ballooned to 49-11 and the 
Jim Harbaugh era reached yet another nadir 
Jim Harbaugh era reached yet another nadir 
with a third-consecutive loss.
with a third-consecutive loss.

Through four games, Michigan has been 
Through four games, Michigan has been 

outscored by more points than Rutgers. Their 
outscored by more points than Rutgers. Their 
current three-game losing streak is the longest 
current three-game losing streak is the longest 
single-season losing streak since 2014. Outside 
single-season losing streak since 2014. Outside 
of the Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez eras, 
of the Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez eras, 
it’s a stretch not seen at Michigan since 1967.
it’s a stretch not seen at Michigan since 1967.

So as Jim Harbaugh looked up at the 
So as Jim Harbaugh looked up at the 

scoreboard late Saturday night, he could only 
scoreboard late Saturday night, he could only 
bring his hands to his hips and stare blankly 
bring his hands to his hips and stare blankly 
forward. It was the same look he wore a 
forward. It was the same look he wore a 
quarter earlier when Wisconsin went up 
quarter earlier when Wisconsin went up 
35-3, two quarters earlier when quarterback 
35-3, two quarters earlier when quarterback 
Joe Milton was stopped on fourth-and-goal, 
Joe Milton was stopped on fourth-and-goal, 
and three quarters earlier when the Badgers 
and three quarters earlier when the Badgers 
jet-sweeped their way around Michigan’s 
jet-sweeped their way around Michigan’s 
defense.
defense.

“Not a good place as a football team right 
“Not a good place as a football team right 

now and that falls on me,” Harbaugh said.
now and that falls on me,” Harbaugh said.

Peppered with questions over the next 
Peppered with questions over the next 

12 minutes, Harbaugh’s search for answers 
12 minutes, Harbaugh’s search for answers 
continued. Asked about Michigan’s three-
continued. Asked about Michigan’s three-
game free fall, he emphasized re-evaluating. 
game free fall, he emphasized re-evaluating. 
The same refrain held true when discussing 
The same refrain held true when discussing 
junior quarterback Joe Milton, who finished 
junior quarterback Joe Milton, who finished 
with 98 yards and two interceptions before 
with 98 yards and two interceptions before 
getting benched for Cade McNamara.
getting benched for Cade McNamara.

“We gotta evaluate all things,” Harbaugh 
“We gotta evaluate all things,” Harbaugh 

said.
said.

After Saturday, the Wolverines don’t have 
After Saturday, the Wolverines don’t have 

another option.
another option.

The latest iteration of their recurring 
The latest iteration of their recurring 

nightmare started before it even began. 
nightmare started before it even began. 
Milton’s first pass of the game slipped 
Milton’s first pass of the game slipped 
through fifth-year senior tight end Nick 
through fifth-year senior tight end Nick 
Eubanks’ hands for an interception. Six plays 
Eubanks’ hands for an interception. Six plays 
and a Wisconsin touchdown later, his second 
and a Wisconsin touchdown later, his second 
throw found the Badgers’ Leo Chenal over 
throw found the Badgers’ Leo Chenal over 
the middle. Twenty yards from the nearest 
the middle. Twenty yards from the nearest 
Wolverine, Chenal met his opportunity with 
Wolverine, Chenal met his opportunity with 
equal surprise and gratitude, taking it back to 
equal surprise and gratitude, taking it back to 
the Michigan 14-yard line.
the Michigan 14-yard line.

By the time Milton completed his first pass 
By the time Milton completed his first pass 

two drives later, Wisconsin’s 
two drives later, Wisconsin’s 
lead was 28-0. Michigan’s 
lead was 28-0. Michigan’s 
drive chart, to that point, 
drive chart, to that point, 
read: 
interception, 
read: 
interception, 

interception, three-and-
interception, three-and-
out, three-and-out.
out, three-and-out.

Including penalties, the 
Including penalties, the 

Wolverines finished the 
Wolverines finished the 
first quarter with negative-
first quarter with negative-
four yards of offense. The 
four yards of offense. The 
Badgers had 129.
Badgers had 129.

“The game started off 
“The game started off 

with two turnovers and we 
with two turnovers and we 
as a defense had a chance 
as a defense had a chance 
to get stops and stop them 
to get stops and stop them 
and hold them to field goals,” 
and hold them to field goals,” 
fifth-year 
senior 
defensive 
fifth-year 
senior 
defensive 

tackle Carlo Kemp said. “And 
tackle Carlo Kemp said. “And 
that’s something we didn’t end 
that’s something we didn’t end 
up doing.”
up doing.”

For Kemp and the Wolverines’ 
For Kemp and the Wolverines’ 

defense, it was a familiar story. In 
defense, it was a familiar story. In 
last year’s 35-14 loss to Wisconsin, the 
last year’s 35-14 loss to Wisconsin, the 
Badgers ran for 359 yards on 57 carries. 
Badgers ran for 359 yards on 57 carries. 
“Things just don’t go how you planned 
“Things just don’t go how you planned 
it,” Kemp said then.
it,” Kemp said then.

A year later, Michigan’s run defense 
A year later, Michigan’s run defense 

improved — by 18 yards. This time around, 
improved — by 18 yards. This time around, 
Wisconsin, sans Jonathan Taylor, gained 341 
Wisconsin, sans Jonathan Taylor, gained 341 
rush yards on 51 carries against a Wolverines’ 
rush yards on 51 carries against a Wolverines’ 
defensive line that sorely missed Kwity 
defensive line that sorely missed Kwity 
Paye and Aidan Hutchinson, both out with 
Paye and Aidan Hutchinson, both out with 
injuries. Over the past two years, the Badgers 
injuries. Over the past two years, the Badgers 
have now outgained Michigan, 700 to 87, on 
have now outgained Michigan, 700 to 87, on 
the ground.
the ground.

“We didn’t set an edge all night,” 
“We didn’t set an edge all night,” 

Harbaugh said. “There’s things that we 
Harbaugh said. “There’s things that we 
weren’t containing.”
weren’t containing.”

In 
the 
passing 
game, 
Wisconsin 
In 
the 
passing 
game, 
Wisconsin 

quarterback Graham Mertz wasn’t asked 
quarterback Graham Mertz wasn’t asked 
to do much. But unlike Milton, he avoided 
to do much. But unlike Milton, he avoided 
mistakes, finishing with two touchdowns 
mistakes, finishing with two touchdowns 
and no interceptions.
and no interceptions.

“That’s something we really have to 
“That’s something we really have to 

look at. Did Joe understand the keys, 
look at. Did Joe understand the keys, 
where he was looking?” Harbaugh said 
where he was looking?” Harbaugh said 
after the game. “I mean, threw a ball 
after the game. “I mean, threw a ball 
right to another guy.”
right to another guy.”

Meanwhile, Mertz — despite missing 
Meanwhile, Mertz — despite missing 

two weeks of practice with COVID-19 
two weeks of practice with COVID-19 
— said he “didn’t feel rusty,” buoyed 
— said he “didn’t feel rusty,” buoyed 
by a Michigan secondary that has 
by a Michigan secondary that has 
struggled to stay tight in coverage all 
struggled to stay tight in coverage all 
season.
season.

For the Wolverines, it was a familiar 
For the Wolverines, it was a familiar 

story.
story.

Another 
loss, 
another 
game 
Another 
loss, 
another 
game 

without answers, another week of 
without answers, another week of 
wondering where to go from here.
wondering where to go from here.

THEO MACKIE

Managing Sports Editor

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 — 19

MILES MACKLIN / DAILY

