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Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from triple-overtime win over Rutgers

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 21, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Ronnie Bell (8) during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Ronnie Bell (8) during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan football was hoping to pick up a big win over Rutgers on Saturday to end the nightmare that has been the 2020 season.

Through the first half, Michigan fans had to be thinking that the ship wasn’t just sinking, it hit rock-bottom. The Wolverines trailed Rutgers 17-7 and it looked like they had no juice or fight left in them.

A kickoff return touchdown to start the second half gave Michigan that life back. The Wolverines looked ready to fight for the first time in weeks and after taking haymaker after haymaker in the first half, Michigan struck first — and hard — against Rutgers.

Rutgers would respond to that Michigan touchdown almost instantly, but the Wolverines would score 14 of the next 17 points, taking a 28-27 lead in the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines added another touchdown late but Rutgers scored in the final seconds and successfully added a two-point conversion to tie the game.

Of course this game would go to overtime where both kickers would miss attempts in the first frame and then both teams would score touchdowns in the second extra frame. The Wolverines would score the lone touchdown in the third overtime to win 48-42.

What’d we learn from this intense Big Ten battle?

3. Not having a consistent run game is killing the Wolverines

Coming into the year, it was presumed that Michigan would have one of the best rushing attacks in the Big Ten, especially with Chris Evans returning.

That hasn’t been the case so far this season.

Not only has the offense been stagnant this season, but the perceived strength heading into the year has been a massive weakness. That continued on Saturday even with a three-headed monster with Evans, Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins in the backfield.

Haskins was the only guy who showed a pulse on Saturday, rushing for over 100 yards, but it took him 20-plus carries and Charbonnet and Evans were non-factors.

All of the pressure has been on the quarterbacks this season and it finished with 143 yards on 48 carries.

This can’t continue.

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