BYU Cougars

Is Michigan's groove back? 3 things we learned in beatdown of BYU

Published Sep. 26, 2015 3:13 p.m. ET

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Stewart Mandel

Rejoice, Michigan fans. It looks like this whole Jim Harbaugh thing might work.

A Wolverines non-conference schedule that began with a humbling defeat at Utah culminated Saturday with a 31-0 thumping of a different team from that state, 22nd-ranked BYU. Here are three things we learned Saturday.

1) Michigan finally has a real offense. All the signs were there Saturday. The Wolverines scored touchdowns on four straight first-half possessions thanks to visibly improved play from quarterback Jake Rudock (14-of-25 for 125 yards and a touchdown, plus two rushing TDs) and the type of relentless rushing attack Harbaugh's teams preach. Perhaps most importantly, the Wolverines produced quite a few explosive plays, the type they've been sorely lacking the past few years. Rudock completed a 41-yard throw to Jake Butt, and De'Veon Smith broke off a ridiculous 60-yard touchdown run. Meanwhile, receiver Amara Darboh did his best Odell Beckham Jr. impression.

Michigan likely benefitted in part from a worn-down BYU defensive front, so don't expect to see such marked efficiency on an every-week basis, but the Wolverines are progressing faster than many anticipated.

2) That defense is just plain salty. BYU failed to crack 100 yards on offense until the last minute of the game. The Wolverines plain dominated the line of scrimmage and overwhelmed Cougars quarterback Tanner Mangum. And this was hardly a one-time thing. Michigan came in ranked seventh nationally in total defense (3.84 yards per play) and will jump even higher up the charts Sunday. That caliber D will give Michigan a chance to win against nearly every Big Ten foe it faces.

Rival Michigan State, for one, has reason for concern. The Spartans' offense muddled its way through a 30-10 win over Central Michigan on Saturday. The two teams meet Oct. 17 in Ann Arbor.

3) BYU bit off more than it could chew. Give the Cougars credit. No team in the country took on a tougher opening month, and they managed to beat Nebraska and Boise State (both in miraculous fashion) and take a Top 10 UCLA team to the wire. But a third road trip in four weeks against another physical Power 5 opponent proved to be too much.

This is the path BYU chose as an independent. It gets more exposure than it would have in the Mountain West, but as teams around the country now begin conference play, the Cougars will likely fall back off the map until their Nov. 14 game against Missouri. Their only remaining goal is to get enough wins to qualify for one of their two prearranged bowl partners, the Hawaii or Las Vegas bowls.

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