With Jim Harbaugh banned by the Massive Ten Convention, JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum and No. 2 Michigan performed unfazed by the scandal that has dogged this system for weeks and — their hardest opponent but — rolled previous No. 9 Penn State 24-15 on Saturday.
Corum ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, McCarthy made some key performs along with his legs and arms and the Wolverines (10-0, 7-0, No. 3 CFP) improved to 3-0 because it was revealed that this system was underneath NCAA investigation for a sign-stealing scheme.
The struggles in large video games have continued for coach James Franklin and Penn State (8-2, 5-3, No. 10 CFP), which scored a mixed 26 factors in losses to Massive Ten East rivals Ohio State and Michigan this season.
In a recreation that Harbaugh little question liked from afar, on what turned out to be a chilly, grey day in Glad Valley, the Wolverines ran the ball on 32 straight performs that counted, beginning with the ultimate two performs of the primary half and ending with a kneel-down double.
The twenty seventh run was Corum’s 30-yard landing run to cap it with 4:15 left.
McCarthy’s lone throw by the road drew the Penn State cross interference flag. He completed 7-for-8 for 60 yards within the recreation — formally 0-for-0 within the second half.
It was a sobering victory for the nation’s high scoring protection on a day when nothing extraordinary started.
It was unclear precisely when Michigan knew for positive that Harbaugh wouldn’t be coach, however about 90 minutes earlier than kickoff, the varsity confirmed {that a} choose had not dominated on its request for a brief restraining order in opposition to the Massive Ten and Commissioner Tony Pettitte.
Pettitte and the convention issued what amounted to a three-game suspension for Harbaugh on Friday as punishment to Michigan for a personality scouting and sign-stealing that the Massive Ten decided violated its sportsmanship coverage.
Offensive coordinator Sherwin Moore served as appearing head coach and led the Wolverines onto the sector to start out the sport.
On Friday, hours after the Massive Ten barred Harbaugh from teaching the rest of the Wolverines’ last regular-season video games as punishment for his private scouting and sign-stealing, the coach and his alma mater filed a brief submitting with one another.
Their attorneys requested a fast choice from a choose in Washtenaw County, Michigan, that might enable Harbaugh to teach in opposition to the Nittany Lions in a top-10 recreation.
“The hurt to the college’s student-athletes might be irreversible,” attorneys for Michigan and Harbaugh mentioned within the lawsuit.
Nevertheless it was to no avail.
“The entire head coaches within the Massive Ten (a few of whom have been accused of actively participating in buying and selling opponents’ alerts) and my fellow Massive Ten ADs can rejoice at this time that somebody has been ‘held accountable,’ however they need to be involved about this,” Manuel mentioned. “Commonplace The brand new ruling (with no full investigation) launched at this convention.”
Michigan had already performed three video games this season earlier than Saturday with out Harbaugh on the sideline. He was suspended by the varsity for the crew’s first three video games as punishment for an unrelated NCAA recruiting violations case.
Michigan allowed a special assistant to take over the top teaching position every week, with Moore getting one recreation, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter getting one other, and particular groups coordinator Jay Harbaugh and working backs coach Mike Hart splitting the third.
The Wolverines simply gained all three in opposition to East Carolina, Bowling Inexperienced and UNLV.
Harbaugh returned in time for the convention schedule.
About two hours and 45 minutes earlier than kickoff Saturday, just a few dozen Michigan followers lined up behind metal obstacles had been greeted by 4 buses carrying Michigan gamers, coaches, Manuel and different workers.
Some cheered and shouted “Go blue!” The buses had been additionally emptied.
One fan shouted at Manuel: “Let’s be part of the SEC!”
Manuel raised his hand to acknowledge the followers however in any other case Michigan entered the sector with out a lot fanfare.
The Wolverines went by their regular warm-up routine earlier than the sport, with some gamers taking the sector to do some mild stretching in athletic gear.
All-American runner Blake Corum wore a “Michigan vs. All” ski hat.
Followers who did not know Michigan was enjoying with out its head coach might not have observed a distinction within the Wolverines’ workers.
Penn State, Michigan’s first opponent this season, stepped as much as the plate first and have become the primary crew to supply a first-and-goal state of affairs in opposition to Michigan. The Wolverines had been prepared for it, forcing the Nittany Lions to kick a 21-yard subject aim with 2:17 remaining within the first quarter.
It was a uncommon deficit for the Wolverines and it did not final lengthy. Corum capped off a 75-yard drive with a three-yard landing run lower than 4 minutes into the second quarter to make the rating 7-3 Michigan.
After Michigan compelled one other punt, as Penn State confronted fourth-and-foot from its personal 35, the Wolverines went on the march once more. They beat Penn State’s blitz on third-and-long with a run by Donovan Edwards that went for a 22-yard landing.
The Nittany Lions responded with their solely landing drive, changing twice on fourth down alongside the way in which earlier than Allar went 11 yards for the tying TD. The 2-point play fell by and it was 14-9 Michigan at halftime, the closest recreation of the season for the Wolverines.
Michigan turned a misplaced Allar fumble at midfield right into a 45-yard scoring drive — all punts — that solely resulted in a subject aim however took 8:04 off the clock within the third quarter and put the Wolverines up eight.
That was sufficient for Michigan’s protection, which allowed a late landing for the primary time this season, to permit multiple TD within the recreation.
