Michigan improved to 4-1 after its 20-17 comeback victory over Northwestern on Saturday, and we take a closer look at what worked and what didn't for the Wolverines.
Key Moment of the Game:
The Wolverines lined up from Northwestern's five-yard line trailing 17-13 with only 4:06 to play in the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback Shea Patterson took the snap and immediately handed off to senior running back Karan Higdon, who scampered into the end zone untouched, putting Michigan up 20-17.
The run marked the game-winning score, and also signaled U-M's first lead of the contest.
Higdon's touchdown capped off an 11-play, 67-yard drive that took up six minutes of game time, and basically saved the Wolverines' season in the process.
Three Things That Worked:
1. Second half defense
Michigan's defense came out of the gates horribly, yielding 17 first-half points and 146 yards of offense to the Wildcats. After halftime, though, U-M surrendered zero points and only 56 yards.
2. U-M's front seven applying pressure
The Wolverines made a living in Northwestern's backfield on Saturday, racking up six sacks and 10 stops for loss. It also held the Wildcat ground game to just 28 yards, including a minuscule 0.4 yard per carry average.
3. Resilience
Michigan could have laid down and quit when it found itself down 17-0, but instead rallied for what was tied as the third largest comeback in school history. The contest played out similarly to the Notre Dame one earlier this year, except the Maize and Blue were able to complete the incredible comeback this time around.
