BRENDAN ROOSE

Daily Sports Editor

17
17-38
38

Hey, what’s up, hello

SPORTSWednesday
SPORTSWednesday

M

ADISON 
— 
The 
narratives 

entering Saturday’s game were 
plentiful. 

Despite 
five 
different 
opportunities, 

the Michigan football team hadn’t won 
at Camp Randall Stadium since 2001. In 
those matchups, Wisconsin outscored the 
Wolverines by a combined 75 points, and 
in the last two meetings specifically, the 
Badgers emphatically exposed Michigan’s 
greatest flaws, from its weak run defense to 
its inept rushing offense. 

Each time, it seemed, the worst version 

of the Wolverines would arrive in Madison, 
take a punch and fall helplessly to the mat. 

On Saturday, Michigan punched back. 
The Wolverines (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big 

Ten) trounced Wisconsin (1-3, 0-2), 38-17, 
earning a marquee road win for coach Jim 
Harbaugh’s rebuilding program. Unlike in 
previous years, Michigan managed to absorb 
the Badgers’ best shots while remaining in 
control the whole way. 

“They did beat us the past two years,” 

junior receiver Cornelius Johnson said. “… 

So we really wanted to make sure we put 
a special emphasis on this one, to come 
into their building and make sure we put 
something good on tape.”

Somewhat surprisingly, many of the 

Wolverines’ best strikes came through the air. 
After averaging a meager 164 passing yards 
per game going into Saturday, Michigan and 
offensive coordinator Josh Gattis recognized 
that Wisconsin would try to stop the run — it 
was best in the country in doing so. 

So, from the start, Gattis opted for a 

closer balance between the run and the 
pass. Despite some early hiccups, junior 
quarterback Cade McNamara boosted the 
offense when needed. 

He had help from sophomore receiver 

Roman Wilson, who used his speed to create 
separation where he hadn’t in previous 
games. On a 3rd-and-14 midway through 
the first quarter, McNamara hit Wilson on a 
quick out for a 12-yard gain, then found him 
again on a crossing route to convert on fourth 
down. A play later, McNamara connected 
with junior receiver Cornelius Johnson on 
a perfectly executed flea flicker to open up 
the scoring. A pair of field goals from senior 
kicker Jake Moody extended that lead.

“I think the difference in us this year is 

that, when we’re expecting to be in a fight, 
we’re confident we’re gonna win that fight,” 
McNamara said. “And I think this team 
didn’t panic at all. When the fight came to us, 
we attacked back.”

Still, the Badgers didn’t lie down. Despite 

finding practically no offense for much of the 
first two quarters, the usually unreliable arm 
of quarterback Graham Mertz led Wisconsin 
to a field goal and one touchdown drive 
that cut Michigan’s lead to three at the half. 
For the first time all game, the Wolverines 
appeared vulnerable. 

In the second half, though, Michigan 

came out swinging. After a 38-yard deep 
ball to Wilson set up a 1st-and-goal from 
the 10, freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy 
ultimately snuck it in for the Wolverines’ 
second touchdown of the game. 

“It’s a tribute to our brotherhood, man,” 

junior edge rusher David Ojabo said. “We 
came into the locker room (at halftime), and 
we just said like, ‘Let’s not panic. We got 
each other’s back through ups and downs.’ 
We really weren’t worried.”

From there, it was Wisconsin that failed 

to recover. After a blistering sack from 
Michigan junior safety Daxton Hill knocked 
a struggling Mertz out of the game, the 

Badgers’ already poor offense slipped into 
full-on anemia, tallying two punts, a fumble 
and an interception from Hill on its next four 
drives. 

The 
Wolverines’ 
offense, 
meanwhile, 

continued to deliver blows — first with a field 
goal after the fumble recovery and then with 
a back-corner touchdown pass to Johnson 
that sealed the victory.

“They had that kind of vibe about them 

from when they first stepped in the locker 
room when we got there early this morning,” 
Harbaugh said. “The vibe was they weren’t 
gonna be denied, and they weren’t gonna 
flinch when punches were thrown.” 

Even if Wisconsin isn’t the marquee 

opponent it normally is — Mertz’s struggles 
throughout the season have mostly derailed 
the team’s offense — Michigan’s win still 
represents a turning point for the program. 
The Badgers entered this game as the 
nation’s top rushing defense; the Wolverines 
were an offense intent on keeping the ball on 
the ground. It was clear Michigan would face 
a barrage of quick hits.

For what feels like the first time in forever, 

the Wolverines dealt some knockout blows of 
their own. We’ll see how they deal with the 
heavyweights later on. 

SPORTS
SPORTSWednesday
Wednesday

Madeline Hinkley/Daily 
Design by Sophie Grand

