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Everything you need to know about Michigan football vs Rutgers

By Christopher Mangum

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 29: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball and avoids a tackle by Derrick Harmon #41 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of a college football game at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 29: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball and avoids a tackle by Derrick Harmon #41 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of a college football game at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the third quartert at Michigan Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the third quartert at Michigan Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images) /

How does Michigan football beat Rutgers?

Frankly, the answer is however the Wolverines want to beat Rutgers. The Knights rank 19th in rushing defense, and 21st in passing yards allowed, so I do expect a lower-scoring game, but when looking at Rutgers’ competition this far these numbers make more sense.

Through eight games, Rutgers has wins over Boston College (22-21), Wagner (66-7), Temple (16-14), and Indiana (24-17). On the flip side, the Knights have lost to Iowa (27-10), No. 2 Ohio State (49-10), Nebraska (14-13), and Minnesota (31-0). Aside from Ohio State, none of these programs have a decent offense.

Michigan football should just play how it has been all season long: hand the ball to your hard-hitting running backs, let the offensive line do its thing, play sound defense, and grind your opponent into the ground for four quarters.

I am yet to see Michigan play a “pretty” game in conference play. Even in the 41-17 win over Penn State, Michigan was boring to watch at times and ran out a lot of the game clock (over 40 minutes). That is not because Michigan is bad by any means; in fact, the opposite is true.

Michigan plays a style of football that no one has been able to stop or replicate so far — almost exclusively ground-and-pound football.

Everyone knows what is coming from the Wolverines’ offense, but no one can stop it. Fans in Ann Arbor like to call this, “Harball,” as it is Jim Harbaugh’s favorite style of football.

Rutgers’ offense is abysmal, and there is no nicer way to put that.

The Wolverines’ defense should have a field day this weekend, and I expect nothing less than a beating for all four quarters. Granted, Michigan’s offense will probably hang onto the football for 2/3 of the game (again), but when Rutgers is on the field, I don’t foresee the Knights having the ball for very long.

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