The Michigan Wolverines faced their third completely overmatched opponent of the non-conference schedule and delivered their third swift beatdown. The defense suffocated UConn en route to a dominant shutout, allowing just over 100 yards total. The offense, led by JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum's 5 rushing TDs, hung 465 yards (6.7 YPP) and 59 points. Special teams blocked a punt and AJ Henning run back a punt back for a TD. The score was 38-0 at halftime and the game was never remotely competitive. Onto the B1G slate. 

Michigan's offense got the ball to start the game and quickly made it clear what kind of game this was going to be. JJ McCarthy's second throw of the game went to Roman Wilson on a WR screen, which he turned upfield for 38 yards. Blake Corum followed it up with a 8 yard run, and then a 20 yard TD scamper. 7-0 Wolverines. 

UConn gained a total of 6 yards on their first two dives, and though they were able to stop Michigan on the second series when JJ McCarthy made the wrong decision on a read, Michigan would get points on their next three drives. They got their second TD after McCarthy led the team down the field with his arms and legs, capped off by three Corum runs inside the ten, the last of which ended in the end zone. The score nudged up to 17-0 after a short field provided by a UConn fumble gave Michigan a chance to move the ball into FG range and line Jake Moody up for a 26 yarder. The next drive made it 24-0 on a Corum walk-in TD set up by a short field following a Caden Kolesar punt block. 

[Bryan Fuller]

That was the story of the first half. After AJ Henning returned a punt 61 yards for a TD and Michigan cashed in one more TD before halftime on yet another Blake Corum easy TD run, the narrative of this piece could be written. The UConn Huskies were completely and totally overmatched in every phase of the game. When Michigan's defense was out there, it was not until the final drive of the half that UConn got into Michigan territory. In totality, they gained just 64 yards in the first half. UConn never threatened for points in that half, with the run stuffed at the line of scrimmage on nearly every play, the screens being telegraphed and blown up, and coverage was good down the field when the occasional shot was taken. 

The second half was really no different. More backups rotating in made Michigan's drives marginally less explosive and allowed UConn's offense to gain some more yards, but it didn't change the bottom line. UConn ultimately punted on the first two drives of the half and Michigan tacked on TDs on their first three to make it 59-0. The remainder of the game was a rotating cast of semi-unknown scholarship reserves and walk-ons getting their one shining moment in the 2022 season. The clock ran out after a kneel down and Michigan had another victory. 

Though it's hard to learn much of anything from a game like this, there were a few notes on both sides of the ball. JJ McCarthy was not as sterling as against Hawaii, with a few marginal throws and the aforementioned bungled zone read, but he still had a fine afternoon, finishing 15/18 for 214 yards (11.9 YPA). Michigan did burn two TO's in the first half in goal-to-go situations because they were up against the playclock. A question about McCarthy entering the season was his ability to keep the offense organized. That is something to monitor moving forward. 

[Bryan Fuller]

Michigan seemed content to take the 5-10 yards underneath that UConn was ceding with its soft coverage, running a number of arc and bubble screens to WRs that picked up chunk gains. They did not threaten down the field the way they did with McCarthy in against Hawaii. The first team offense did punt two times, one of which because of a coverage sack (although it seemed like McCarthy struggled to read the 8-man zone UConn was running) and another because of the read miscue. Blake Corum only rushed it 12 times, but scored five TDs, as good as advertised. His five TDs tied Hassan Haskins (2021) and Ron Johnson (1968) for the most rushing TDs by a single player in a game in program history. 

The offensive line was fine overall. Trevor Keegan dealt with another minor injury, being subbed out for Gio El-Hadi, who had one notable pass protection error. Trente Jones had his usual once-per-week pass protection miscue, again coming right after Cade McNamara was in the game. The Big House crowd gave Cade a warm reception, but he then exited the game permanently after one drive due to seeming-injury (perhaps related to the Jones protection issue). Among the reserves, Andy Maddox and Brandon Mann threw passes, Jayden Denegal got to play, and Leon Franklin scored a TD after a dump-off pass from Alan Bowman. 

On defense, I don't have too many notes. UConn had the occasional good play, one of which on a scramble from Zion Turner, and they got the benefit of a DPI on DJ Turner to extend a drive when the corner arrived a second early, but otherwise they were smothered. 110 yards on 53 plays, for 2.1 YPP with zero points and zero red zone trips says all you need to know. UConn is not a good team, and they did not play well either, fumbling several times + penalties and drops. 

[Bryan Fuller]

Finally, with special teams, Michigan asserted their dominance right from the get go. The Kolesar block, in addition to the Henning return, were decisive plays in the first half. Jake Moody made his field goal from shorter range, angling the kick from the right hash, but missed a 62-yarder to end the first half. It was actually a splendid kick, right down the middle and likely good from 55-60, but not quite enough to make it from that very far range. 

Today was the first shutout for Michigan Football since beating Rutgers 52-0 in 2019 and the largest home shutout since beating Northwestern 69-0 in 1975. The Michigan defense still has not allowed a point in the first half this year. Next week represents a significant step-up in competition, as Maryland comes into Ann Arbor to begin the B1G season. That game is scheduled for noon and will be broadcast on FOX. There is no content after the jump.