Game Note Nuggets – Wisconsin
• Tight end Max Bredeson (Hartland) and running back Isaiah Gash (Green Bay) are the only two Wolverines who hail from the state of Wisconsin.
• The Michigan offense has scored 161 points through four weeks (40.25 per game) which ranks 16th nationally and second in the Big Ten. That scoring figure represents the fifth-highest total in the last 50 seasons at U-M (since 1971). The following teams are the only ones to score more in the first month of their respective seasons: 2016 (208 points), 1976 (192 points), 1992 (175 points), and 2010 (166 points).
• Michigan’s opening drive against Rutgers last weekend was one of the longest in program history. It traveled 74 yards on 17 plays, chewing 7:36 of clock, and ranks tied-12th longest all-time in terms of number of plays.
• Blake Corum’s 475 rushing yards are the most through the first four weeks by any U-M running back since Karan Higdon’s 479 yards in 2018 season. Prior to Higdon, it’s the highest opening-month rushing total since Mike Hart hat 655 yards in the first four weeks of the 2007 season.
• Corum’s 180.75 all-purpose yards per game lead the nation, and he’s also among the country’s best in rushing touchdowns (seven, fifth), rushing yards per game (118.8, ninth), kick return average (31.8 yards, ninth), total points (42, 13th) and yards per carry (6.88, 19th).
• Hassan Haskins had two rushing touchdowns last weekend, making him the first Wolverine since Devin Gardner (2013) with at least one rushing score in each of the first four games of the year. Gardner’s streak lasted the first five games that year. Haskins’ six rushing touchdowns are 11th, nationally.
• The offensive line remains among the nation’s best, having allowed just one sack (third nationally) and nine tackles for loss (first). Both figures lead the Big Ten. They pave the way for the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the country (290.8 yards per game), another Big Ten-best.
• Cade McNamara has thrown 124 consecutive pass attempts without an interception to begin his career. U-M is one of two teams (BYU) to play turnover-free through the first month of the year. Rutgers had zero turnovers heading into last weekend before David Ojabo ended the game with a key forced fumble in the fourth quarter.
• McNamara has completed passes of 20-plus yards to five different receivers this season. For all five, a new career long reception was achieved: Cornelius Johnson (87 yards), Ronnie Bell (76), Mike Sainristil (51), Roman Wilson (38), and Erick All (24).
• Overall, the offense has 21 plays of 20-plus yards this season (11 rushing, 10 passing), including four on Saturday against Rutgers — all through the air. U-M is 11th in yards per completion (16) and 19th in red zone offense (94.1 percent).
• The defense ranks fourth in the country in scoring defense, allowing 11.8 points per contest, and is also top-25 in pass defense (171.5 yards allowed per game), pass efficiency (111.33 rating allowed), and fourth-down conversion percentage allowed (14.3 percent).
• The 47 points the Wolverine defense has surrendered thus far in 2021 are among the lowest since 1980. Seven U-M teams allowed lower totals in the season’s first month: 44 points allowed (1987, ’96, ’03, ’17), 38 points (2015), 21 points (1985), and 20 points (1997).
• Aidan Hutchinson is third in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks. He has more this season in six starts than he did in 14 previous starts during his career (4.5).
• With his pass breakup last weekend, defensive lineman Donovan Jeter became the 13th Wolverine with at least one PBU so far this season.
• Punter Brad Robbins had a 51-yard long punt last weekend, his third punt of 50-plus yards on 11 attempts so far this season with just 12 return yards allowed. He has 21 punts of 50-plus yards in his career.
