Michigan’s No. 2 Team Overwhelms Minnesota 52-10, Marking 17th Consecutive Big Ten Victory With Two Interception Returns for Touchdowns

Will Johnson initiated a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown during Minnesota’s second play of the game, setting the tone for Michigan’s dominant 52-10 win over the Gophers on Saturday evening.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy displayed precision by completing 14 of his 20 pass attempts for a total of 219 yards. He also set a new personal record with two rushing touchdowns. This performance assisted the Wolverines in extending their Big Ten winning streak to 17 games, the second-longest in the history of the program.

The victory marked Michigan’s 18th consecutive win against Minnesota on the latter’s home turf. Over the last 47 meetings for the Little Brown Jug trophy, Michigan has secured 43 wins against the Gophers, who now stand at a record of 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

In the third quarter, Keon Sabb returned an interception for a 28-yard touchdown, marking the first game in which Michigan scored two touchdowns off interceptions since September 9, 2017, against Cincinnati. The interception, a result of an errant throw by Minnesota’s Athan Kaliakmanis, allowed Michigan to extend their lead to 45-10. This subsequently led to J.J. McCarthy being sidelined for the remainder of the contest as Jack Tuttle and Jayden Denegal took over in the fourth quarter.

Kaliakmanis, who is in his sophomore season and his first as the main quarterback, struggled against Michigan’s formidable defense. He completed just 5 of 16 passes for 52 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown to Daniel Jackson late in the second quarter. He was also sacked twice and found himself under relentless pressure from the second snap, when his high throw to Jackson near the sideline was intercepted by Johnson for a touchdown. Even Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, joined the defensive unit for a celebratory group photo on the sideline.

The 42-point difference represents Michigan’s largest margin of victory in a Big Ten matchup since a 52-0 rout of Rutgers in 2019. Minnesota had not faced such a lopsided defeat since a 52-10 loss to Ohio State in 2010.

In terms of offense, Blake Corum accumulated 69 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. Leon Franklin contributed a late-game rushing touchdown. Michigan amassed 432 total yards against Minnesota’s 169. Remarkably, this marks the ninth consecutive game in which the Wolverines have surpassed 30 points, a new program record according to Sportradar data.

While this was the first time this season that Michigan allowed an opponent to score more than 10 points, their defense remains formidable. Leading the FBS with an average of 6.7 points conceded per game, the team had an excellent showing, highlighted by defensive tackle Mason Graham’s return from injury. Graham led the team with six tackles, including two for a loss and a sack.

Series Dominance

Michigan holds a commanding 77-25-3 lead in the historical series against Minnesota. The Gophers last achieved a home victory in 1977 and have managed wins in Michigan only in 2014, 2005, and 1986—when Harbaugh was the Wolverines’ quarterback.

Streak Context

Michigan’s current 17-game winning streak in conference play is second only to a 19-game stretch from 1990-1992. Ohio State holds the record for the three longest Big Ten winning streaks, with the most significant being 30 games from 2012-2015. Michigan’s last conference loss occurred against Michigan State on October 30, 2021.

Key Takeaways

Michigan

The Wolverines may not face a significant challenge until their November 11 encounter with No. 6 Penn State. The implications of this are yet to be determined.

Minnesota

Missing their leading rusher Darius Taylor due to injury, the Gophers could not match Michigan’s skill level and were outclassed.

Upcoming Matches

Michigan is set to host Indiana next Saturday afternoon, boasting a record of 27 wins in their last 28 games against the Hoosiers. Their sole loss occurred in 2020 in a stadium largely empty because of the pandemic.

Minnesota, after a week off, will be up against rival Iowa on October 21. They have lost the last eight contests for the Floyd of Rosedale bronze pig trophy and have not triumphed against the Hawkeyes on the road since 1999.

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More about Michigan’s Big Ten winning streak

• Michigan Wolverines Official Website
• Minnesota Gophers Official Website
• Big Ten Conference Official Website
• College Football News
• [AP Top 25 College Football Poll](https://bigbignews.net/ap-top-25