Although it wasn't pretty at times, No. 11 Michigan was able to grind out a 33-17 win over No. 17 Florida on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Of Florida's 17 points, 14 came on a pair of pick-sixes thrown by Michigan redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight. In fact, the Wolverines' defense gave up a field goal on Florida's first offensive drive of the game, but then pitched a shutout the rest of the way.
Michigan's defense took over from that point, holding the Gator offense to just 192 total yards, including a staggering 11 on the ground.
Find out what they're saying around the web about the win here:
"Wilton Speight played the entire game at quarterback for Michigan with the exception of John O'Korn entering for two series in the second quarter.
"Michigan largely won in spite of Speight, as he completed 11 of 25 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns by Florida in the second quarter on back-to-back drives.
"Despite his final line, Speight's day actually got off to a strong start. He threw a touchdown to Kekoa Crawford on Michigan's opening drive, but an ineligible-receiver-downfield penalty canceled it out, resulting in Michigan tying the game with a short field goal."
Ryan Zuke, Mlive: 6 things being talked about after Michigan's 33-17 win over Florida
No. 3: Quinn Nordin makes history
"The Wolverines might have found themselves a top-notch kicker in [redshirt freshman] Quinn Nordin. The product out of Rockford high made four of six field goal attempts — including two from 50 yards or longer. He is the first kicker in Michigan history with two made field goals of 50 yards or longer in the same game. Nordin could have had three of 50-plus yards, but his 52-yard attempt in the fourth quarter just missed wide-right.
"Nordin's big day also prompted plenty of Harbaugh sleepover jokes on social media. He was once the nation's No. 1-ranked kicker as a high school senior. And to recruit him to Ann Arbor, Jim Harbaugh slept over at Nordin's house."
"There was a moment, after C.J. Henderson’s pick-six — the second in the span of minutes for the Florida Gators, and the one by one of the young and precocious defenders who will be asked to make that defense ferocious — when it felt like Florida might actually beat Michigan.
"Just a moment, though.
"The rest of the game, won 33-17 by the Wolverines, made plain just how far removed Florida was on this Saturday from the rarefied air college football’s elite teams breathe.
"Michigan ran for 215 yards, 114 from the bruising Ty Isaac and 78 from Chris Evans, and got 181 more through the air from Wilton Speight, who dinked and dunked around the outskirts of a Florida defense that busted big and wore down. The Wolverines leaned on the Gators for all four quarters, dominating everywhere but in the red zone and for every moment but the ones between Speight’s pick-sixes and the ones of Florida’s opening drive — which got one first down from a penalty on a Tyrie Cleveland end-around and another from a dime by Feleipe Franks to Josh Hammond, but just three points from Eddy Piñeiro at its end.
"That was effectively the end of Florida’s offensive efficacy on the day."
"Relentless defense: Michigan’s defense can move. All 11 players on the field have speed, as do the backups. The Wolverines were all over the place for most of the afternoon Saturday and it wasn’t just one or two players.
"Devin Bush Jr. was very active inside. Lavert Hill had a few coverage hiccups, but was very good in run support and on the edge. Tyree Kinnel and Josh Metellus both made plays on the back end. Maurice Hurst looked unblockable at times, and Michigan’s defensive line twisted and stunted enough to confuse the Gators early in the game.
"Defensive coordinator Don Brown moved Khaleke Hudson around quite a bit, using him as a viper and a nickel – which allowed for Noah Furbush to get more time on the field.
"Michigan had six sacks, 11 tackles for loss and scored a defensive touchdown. Not too shabby."
"1. New starters, same results for Michigan's defense: A lot has been made over the last couple of years with Michigan not releasing a depth chart. As it turns out, the depth chart really doesn't seem to matter that much for Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines. Experts pointed to the loss of defensive starters as a reason to predict a step back for Michigan in 2017, even going as far as to label them an "inexperienced" defense. But starts don't tell the whole story for experience in college football in 2017, and those new defensive starters on the field looked plenty ready in a dominant performance against Florida.
"Rashan Gary, Mo Hurst and Devin Bush stood out as stars, and Michigan's entire defense always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Don Brown's group was rated as one of the best defensive units in the country a year ago, and even after the loss of more than a handful of stars, they're going to end up in that same spot. Maize hats flew to the ball and consistently sent extra defenders into the backfield to pressure the quarterback. Michigan's defense hasn't taken a step back, if anything they've gotten faster and a little bit more terrifying."
Andrew Olson, InsideTheGators.com: Instant Analysis: Florida downed 33-17 in season opener
"IT WAS OVER WHEN: Florida could not take advantage of a Michigan missed field goal. With 10:46 left and down nine points, the Gators went three-and-out. The Wolverines would miss another field goal, but were able to trim time off the clock.
"THEY STOLE THE SHOW: Michigan running backs Ty Isaac, Chris Evans and Karan Higdon ran with ease on Florida’s defense, even getting back-breaking third-and-long conversions that kept Wolverine drives alive. Isaac averaged more than 10 yards per carry on a day UM ran for more than 200 yards.
"Wolverines linebacker Devin Bush was all over the field, causing headaches for the Gator offense."
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