Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (18) reaches for yardage after a catch against Rutgers linebacker Deion Jennings (17) during Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP photo)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jim Harbaugh’s return to the sideline coincided with No. 2 Michigan playing his favorite way, establishing the run and slowing down opponents on the ground.
Blake Corum ran for two touchdowns and 97 yards on 21 carries, helping the Wolverines pull away and beat Rutgers 31-7 on Saturday with Harbaugh coaching after his school-imposed three-game suspension for NCAA recruiting infractions.
Michigan had 201 yards rushing, averaging 5 yards a carry, and gave up just 3.3 yards per run for a total of 77 yards.
“That’s the kind of game Bo Schembechler would’ve been really proud of,” said Harbaugh, who played quarterback for the late coach in the mid-1980s.
The Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) started slow and didn’t take their first lead until late in the second quarter when J.J. McCarthy threw a tiebreaking, 18-yard touchdown pass to Semaj Morgan.
Michigan went ahead by 17 points on Mike Sainristil’s 71-yard interception return with 4:31 left in the third quarter, two plays after officials waved off a flag against the Wolverines.
The Scarlet Knights (3-1, 1-1) took a 7-0 lead on the third snap of the game on Gavin Wimsatt’s 69-yard touchdown pass to Christian Dremel, but they missed chances to score more in each quarter.
“You can’t really miss opportunities against a team like that,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said.
Corum capped a 94-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to help Michigan pull into a tie on its second possession.
“Rutgers went up 7-0 and we knew we needed to score just for the energy,” Corum said. “That second drive was a huge part of the game.”
McCarthy was 15 of 21 for 214 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers, a week after throwing a career-high three interceptions.
Wimsatt went 11 of 21 for 180 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He ran six times for 28 yards.
Kyle Monangai ran for 27 yards on 11 carries for the Scarlet Knights.
“They’re very gap sound, they’re a disciplined team, they’re physical,” Monangai said. “Anybody who does that, it’s going to be hard to run the ball against.”
Missed opportunities
The Scarlet Knights, with a chance to take a two-score lead, negated a 27-yard run with a holding penalty and were called for a false start on third down in the first quarter on a possession that ended with a punt.
Rutgers was called for a false start on fourth-and-1, leaving the Knights with a 51-yard field-goal attempt that Jai Patel missed when the score was tied early in the second quarter.
On fourth-and-2 from the Michigan 27 in the third quarter, Wimsatt was picked off on two plays after officials waved off an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.
“It’s the human element,” said Schiano, who didn’t share what the officials’ explanation was on the pivotal play. “Is it frustrating? Sure. Everybody gets frustrated. It’s part of it.”
On fourth-and-6 at the Michigan 19 in the fourth quarter, Wimsatt threw an incomplete pass.
The takeaway
Rutgers: Wimsatt can make plays through the air and with his legs. Early in the game, he fooled Michigan’s defense by keeping the ball on read-option plays.
Michigan: McCarthy had seven carries, matching his total from the first three games, for 51 yards after entering the game with 35 yards on the ground.
“He’s tough to defend,” Harbaugh said. “He can throw the ball in the pocket or throw it out of the pocket. And I wouldn’t doubt he can run a 4.4 (40-yard dash).”
The streak
Michigan has 19 consecutive home victories, its longest run since winning 21 in a row from 1998-2001. The Wolverines have won 29 of their last 32 games.
Poll implications
The Wolverines likely will hold on to their spot in the AP Top 25.
He said it
“We’re not there yet,” Schiano said. “We’ll get there, but we’re not quite there yet. I think Michigan’s program is there.”
Up next
Rutgers: Hosts Wagner, an FCS program, on Saturday.
Michigan: In first road game, plays Nebraska on Saturday.
Penn State 31, Iowa 0
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Drew Allar threw four touchdown passes and Penn State’s defense forced four turnovers to lead the seventh-ranked Nittany Lions past No. 24 Iowa.
Tyler Warren caught two touchdowns and Khalil Dinkins and KeAndre Lambert-Smith each caught one for the Nittany Lions (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten), who possessed the ball for more than 42 minutes.
A cold mist settled over the stadium midway through the first half. The soggy weather didn’t deter the 110,830 fans — nearly all of them dressed for the White Out — from bouncing up and down, rumbling the bleachers in response to every defensive play.
And they had plenty to be excited about. Linebacker Curtis Jacobs recovered two fumbles and Adisa Isaac and Zuriah Fisher grabbed each grabbed loose balls for a Penn State defense that allowed just 76 total yards.
With Iowa driving in Penn State territory on its second possession, Nittany Lion defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton jarred the ball loose from tight end Erick All. Jacobs jumped on it to spoil what turned out to be the Hawkeyes’ best chance of scoring.
Allar turned the mistake into a 17-play scoring drive that ended with a 46-yard field goal by Alex Felkins.
Jacobs made another heads-up play minutes later when a Penn State punt caromed off Iowa’s Mason Stahl. Jacobs fell on the live ball, and Allar hit Dinkins 10 plays later on a short crossing pattern in the end zone for a 9-yard score to make it 10-0.
The Nittany Lions held the ball for more than 21 minutes in the first half and continued to eat clock when they got the ball to start the third. They drove 75 yards in 6:40 and went up 17-0 on a short cross-body throw from Allar to Warren for a 2-yard score. Allar hit Warren for a 7-yard touchdown later in the third.
Iowa turned it over on its very next play when Penn State’s Chop Robinson flew around the Iowa line and stripped the ball from quarterback Cade McNamara. Isaac recovered it and Allar hit Lambert-Smith on another short end-zone route eight plays later — this one a 3-yard score — to make it 31-0.
Illinois 23, Florida Atlantic 17
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Luke Altmyer threw a touchdown pass and ran for another and Isaiah Williams caught eight passes for 120 yards to lead Illinois in a non-conference game Saturday.
It was a bounce-back game for Altmyer, who threw four interceptions in the 30-13 loss to Penn State last week and was benched in the fourth quarter. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 303 yards and wasn’t picked off.
Florida Atlantic’s Daniel Richardson, in his first start after Casey Thompson suffered a season-ending ACL tear, completed 28 of 49 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Richardson was intercepted in the end zone by Nicario Harper early in the fourth quarter.
After falling behind 10-0, the Illini (2-2) rallied to lead 14-10 at halftime and pulled away from Florida Atlantic (1-3) in the third quarter before the Owls scored a late touchdown.
Aidan Laughery scored on a 2-yard run early in the quarter, capping an eight-play, 94-yard drive that included a 45-yard pass from Altmyer to Williams. Caleb Griffin added a 44-yard field goal later in the quarter.
After committing five turnovers against Penn State, the Illinois offense started slowly.
The Illini marched to the Owls’ 19 on their first drive, then turned the ball over on downs.
On Illinois’ second possession, Altmyer was sacked by Xavier Peters, fumbled, and Jayden Williams recovered for the Owls at the Illinois 28. That led to a 22-yard field goal by Logan Lupo that gave Florida Atlantic a 3-0 lead.
After an Owls’ touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Richardson to LaJohntay Wester, Illinois got back into the game on a trick play. Altmyer took a pitch on a reverse flea flicker and threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Griffin Moore.
Illinois grabbed a 14-10 halftime lead on a 7-yard run by Altmyer that capped an 8-play, 85-yard drive.
Maryland 31 Michigan State 9
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Taulia Tagovailoa threw for three touchdowns and ran for another and Maryland’s defense forced five turnovers.
For the first time since the season-opener against Towson, Maryland did not fall behind by 14-0 at the start of the game.
Tagovailoa, who completed 21 of 36 passes for 223 yards, led the Terrapins (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) to touchdowns on three of their four first-half drives and a 21-3 halftime lead. He had scoring throws of 1 yard to Sean Greeley and 12 yards to Tyrese Chambers before plowing up the middle on a 1-yard touchdown run. Tagovailoa added a 31-yarder to Octavian Smith Jr. late in the fourth quarter.
The Spartans (2-2, 0-1) were able to drive multiple times deep into Maryland territory, including to the 1-yard line, but were held to a 37-yard field goal by Jonathan Kim late in the second quarter and and a 9-yard touchdown pass from Noah Kim to Tyrell Henry in the third quarter.
Michigan State has dropped its first two games under Harlon Barnett, who was appointed interim coach to replace Mel Tucker, who was suspended Sept. 10 pending the results of an outside investigation into a USA Today report that alleged he sexually harassed activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy during a phone call last year. The school announced Monday that Tucker will be fired without compensation for misconduct involving Tracy.
