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