Recap: Michigan earns Little Brown Jug with 49-24 win at Minnesota in opener
Nolan Bianchi
Game summary
The Joe Milton era at Michigan got off to a bang at Minnesota on Saturday night, as the junior quarterback moved the Wolverines up and down the field while getting five touchdowns from four running backs to earn a 49-24 win over the Golden Gophers.
Final leaders
Passing
MICH - Joe Milton: 15/22, 225 yds., TD
MINN - Tanner Morgan: 18/31, 197 YDS., TD, Int.
Rushing
MICH: Hassan Haskins: 6 atts., 82 yds.
MINN - Mohamed Ibrahim: 26 atts., 140 yds., 2 TD
Receiving
MICH - Ronnie Bell: 4 recs., 74 yds.
MINN - Rashod Bateman: 9 recs., 101 yds.
Michigan dries up Minnesota's opportunities in final minutes
Michigan takes back over at the 13.
A.J. Henning rushes for 6 yards to the 19. Ronnie Bell then hauls in a throw from Joe Milton and gets to the Michigan 49.
Milton goes back to Bell on the next play, this time connection for 35 yards to the Minnesota 16.
Blake Corum gets 3 yards on first down, and is then dropped for a 5-yard loss on second down. Milton's throw to Bell is incomplete on third down.
Jake Moody's chip-shot field goal from 33 is no good.
Michigan 49, Minnesota 24 (3:37 4th)
Cam Wiley rushes for a gain of 3 before Tanner Morgan throws an interception to Josh Ross, who returns it to the Minnesota 15. A chop block penalty backs the Wolverines up to the 30.
Blake Corum rushes to the 21 for a gain of 9 on first down. Michigan is flagged for an inelligble man downfield on the next play, a penalty that loses 5 yards.
Cade McNamara takes over at quarterback for Michigan in garbage time here.
Roman Wilson drops his first pass attempt, and McNamara's third-down throw to Erick All is broken up. McNamara takes a shot to the end zone on fourth down, but it's beyond the mark.
Minnesota takes over on downs.
Michigan 49, Minnesota 24 (1:45 4th)
Tanner Morgan misses his first two passes of the drive. He throws complete to Treyson Potts for a gain of 9 on third down.
Potts picks up the first down with a 1-yard run.
Timeout #2 Michigan (1:04 4th)
Morgan throws two incomplete passes then gives it to Potts for a 9-yard gain on the grond. They punt it away.
Michigan takes over at the 14, where they will assemble in victory formation.
FINAL: MICHIGAN 49, MINNESOTA 24
Michigan punishes Morgan, forces another punt
Minnesota needs some answers soon. It takes the field at their own 25, down 25 with 13:51 in the fourth.
Mohamed Ibrahim opens the drive with a 14-yard run.
Tanner Morgan scrambles for a gain of 2 on the next play, then throws incomplete to Ko Kieft. The Gophers keep the drive moving with a 14-yard throw to Ibrahim.
Treyson Potts rushes for 3 yards on first down.
Timeout #1 Minnesota (11:22 4th)
Potts is dropped for a loss of 4 on second down. Morgan throws complete to Rashod Bateman for a 12-yard gain that'll move the chains to the Michigan 34.
Morgan gets absolutely hammered on the next play, a loss of 11 to the Michigan 45.
Timeout #2 Minnesota (9:05 4th)
Morgan is sacked again, this time for a loss of 7 yards.
Timeout #1 Michigan (8:18 4th)
Another Morgan sack. It's a loss of 6.
Matthew Stephenson's punt is downed at the 13 of Michigan.
Michigan 49, Minnesota 42 (7:33 4th)
Michigan extends lead to 25 early in fourth quarter
Michigan takes over at its own 4 after the big defensive stop.
Hassan Haskins has no room to run up the middle, bounces it to the outside, and runs wild to the Minnesota 30 for a 66-yard gain on the first play of the drive.
Blake Corum picks up 7 more on the next play, bringing the third quarter to a close.
END 3RD: Michigan 42, Minnesota 24
Milton hits Roman Wilson with a strike on second down for a gain of 16 to the Minnesota 7, bringing up first-and-goal.
Chris Evans gets into the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown run.
Michigan 49, Minnesota 24 (13:51 4th)
Michigan gets big stop at own 4-yard-line
Minnesota returns the kickoff to the 18-yard-line. The Gophers need some help on offense to continue to keep up with Michigan.
Mohamed Ibrahim rushes for 25 yards on the first play of the drive.
Tanner Morgan follows that up with a bomb to Rashod Bateman that's good for 38 yards to the Michigan 19.
Ibrahim rushes for 3, 5, and then 3 more yards to pick up a first down for the Golden Gophers at the Michigan 8-yard-line.
Ibrahim rushes for 4 on first down. He's dropped for no gain on second down. Morgan's throw to Bateman in the corner of the end zone is off the mark, and defended well by Gemon Green.
The Gophers go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 4, Morgan scrambles, has a receiver, but throws over his head as Michigan gets the stop.
Michigan 42, Minnesota 24 (0:49 3rd)
Michigan answers with flawless touchdown drive
Michigan fumbles the kickoff, but recovers at the 32. The Wolverines take over with an 11-point lead, looking to answer Minnesota's touchdown drive to open the third.
Joe Milton's first pass of the drive is tipped and caught by Giles Jackson for a 12-yard gain.
Zach Charbonnet rushes for 4 yards on first down. He throws complete to Erick All for a 6-yard gain. on the next play, reaching the Minnesota 46.
Milton takes off on first-and-10 from Minnesota territory, getting to the 37 for a gain of 9. Blake Corum picks up the first down with a 7-yard pickup.
Michigan runs another tight end screen to All, who gets all the way to the Minnesota 3 for a gain of 27.
Chris Evans is stuffed after a 1-yard gain on first down. Milton keeps on second down and punches it in with his feet for a Michigan touchdown.
Michigan 42, Minnesota 24 (5:20 3rd)
Minnesota opens third quarter with touchdown drive
Minnesota takes over at the 29 to start the second half.
Tanner Morgan's first-down throw is broken up by Aidan Hutchinson. Mohamed Ibrahim rushes for 7 yards on second down and 5 more on third down to move the chains.
Ibrahim is stuffed at the 41 on first down for no gain. Ko Kieft picks up the slack and rushes to the Michigan 44, a 15-yard pickup.
Ibrahim gets it on the next two plays, gaining 7 and 4 yards as Minnesota moves to the 33.
Morgan's throw to Bryce Witham is broken up. He gets it to Rashod Bateman for a gain of 25 to the Michigan 8-yard-line.
Ibrahim rushes for 3 yards then gets into the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown run.
Michigan 35, Minnesota 24 (9:36 3rd)
Michigan misses field goal as time expires in second
Minnesota takes the field at the 25, trailing by 18 with 1:04 left in the first half.
Mohamed Ibrahim is stopped on first down for no gain. Tanner Morgan hits Rashod Bateman on a slant route that's good for 4 yards.
Timoeut #2 Minnesota (0:40 2nd)
Morgan's third-down throw misses the mark, and Minnesota will punt again.
Matthew Stephenson's punt is an awful one, going out of bounds at the Minnesota 47.
Michigan 35, Minnesota 17 (0:26 2nd)
Michigan has it at the 47 with two timeouts and 26 seconds left in the half.
Joe Milton's first-down throw is to a tight window, and is knocked incomplete. Milton rolls out on second down and makes a terrific cross-body throw to Giles Jackson, but it's just a touch beyond his receiver's reach.
Chris Evans catches a 10-yard pass on third down, giving Michigan a first down at the 37.
Timeout #2 Michigan (0:07 2nd)
Milton hits Ronnie Bell on a 7-yard out to give Jake Moody some extra yardage on the field-goal attempt.
Moody's kick from 48 yards is wide left.
END 2ND: Michigan 35, Minnesota 17
Michigan takes 35-17 lead before half
Michigan takes over at Minnesota's 29 after the fake punt attempt.
Joe Milton throws complete to Ronnie Bell on first down, and the 2-yard gain is supplemented by a 14-yard face-mask penalty. It's first-and-10 at the 13.
Chris Evans rushes for a yard on first down. Evans gets it again on second down, this time getting to the 4.
Hassan Haskins rushes it in from 4 yards out to give Michigan a three-score lead.
Michigan 35, Minnesota 17 (1:00 1st)
Michigan stuffs fake punt attempt, grabs another chance to extend lead
Minnesota takes over at the 25, down 11 with 4:48 to go in the first half.
Mohamed Ibrahim rushes for 5 yards on first down. He's popped after only a yard on second down. Gemon Green makes a great play to break up the third-down throw to Rashod Bateman.
Minnesota tries to fake the punt, but it goes for a loss of 2 as Hassan Haskins, the running back, grabs the ballcarrier behind the line.
Michigan 28, Minnesota 17 (3:13 2nd)
Milton rolling as Michigan takes 28-17 lead against Minnesota
Michigan takes over at the 23. The Wolverines are looking to match Minnesota's touchdown and get back to a two-score lead.
Joe Milton throws complete to Mike Sainristil on first down for a gain of 11 yards to the Michigan 34.
Giles Jackson rushes for 8 yards on the next play. Milton scrambles on second down, picking up 9 yards and moving into enemy territory before going out of bounds at the Minnesota 49.
Milton throws over the head of Roman Wilson on first down. He dishes quickly to A.J. Henning on second down and Michigan picks up 14 more yards to the Minnesota 35.
Chris Evans gets his first cary of the season, rushing for 4 yards. A false start makes it second-and-11. Milton rushes for 8 yards, but then a holding penalty backs the Wolverines up 10 yards. It's second-and-13 at the 38.
Timeout #1 Michigan (9:32 2nd)
Then Minnesota jumps offsides, making it second-and-8. Milton takes off again, this time for 6 yards. Milton finds a hole on third down, breaking free up the sideline and getting all the way to the 4, a 23-yard gain.
Hassan Haskins punches it in from the Wildcat formation. Touchdown, Wolverines.
Michigan 28, Minnesota 17 (4:48 2nd)
Minnesota chips into Michigan lead
Minnesota takes over at the 25.
Rashod Bateman hauls in an 8-yard reception on first down.
END 1ST: Michigan 21, Minnesota 10
Cam Wiley rushes for 7 yards on the next play, moving the chains to the 40.
Wiley is stopped for no gain on the next play. Tanner Morgan hits Bateman for a 9-yard completion on second down, bringing up third-and-1.
There's a face mask penalty on Aidan Hutchinson during the next play, giving Minnesota a first down at the 33.
Morgan's first-down throw to Wiley is behind the line, and he's brought down for a loss of 5. Bateman hauls in a 15-yard reception on second down.
Ibrahim rushes for 3 yards on first down and 4 on second down, reaching the 16. He then barely gets in for a 16-yard touchdown, and after an extensive review, it's ruled he did break the plane. Touchdown, Minnesota.
Michigan 21, Minnesota 17 (9:38 2nd)
Explosive return helps Michigan to 21-10 lead
Michael Barrett makes his second huge play of the game for Michigan, returning the kickoff to the Minnesota 8-yard-line.
Joe Milton's throw to the end zone is broken up on first down. He gets it to Mason on second down, and Mason flips over a defender on his way. tothe end zone for a Michigan touchdown.
Michigan 21, Minnesota 10 (0:15 1st)
Michigan's defense makes red-zone stand, Minnesota cuts into lead with field goal
Minnesota takes over at the 10 after a penalty on the kick return.
Mohamed Ibrahim is stuffed for no gain on first down. Tanner Morgan goes over the top to Chris Autman-Bell on the next play, and it's a big one. The Gophers receiver hauls it in for a 45-yard gain to the Michigan 45.
Ibrahim gets 5 yards on first down. Daxton Hill is called for pass interference on second down, giving the Gophers 15 free yards and a first down at the 25.
Ibrahim rushes for 3 yards on first down. Treyson Potts picks up the rest with a 9-yard gain to the 13.
Ibrahim is stopped for no gain on the next play, but gets 11 yards on second down. It's first-and-goal at the 2.
A false start makes it first-and-goal at the 7. Bateman gets dropped behind the line for a loss of 4. Morgan misses to Autman-Bell on second down. He throws complete to Ibrahim on third-and-goal, but he's brought down for no gain. A good stand by the Michigan defense.
Brock Walker's chip-shot field goal is good.
Michigan 14, Minnesota 10 (0:37 1st)
Michigan goes up 14-7 on strip-sack touchdown
Minnesota takes over at the 20 after the missed kick.
Tanner Morgan is strip-sacked by Michael Barrett, Donovan Jeter grabs it from mid-air, and takes it to the house for a Michigan touchdown.
Michigan 14, Minnesota 7 (7:08 1st)
Milton finds groove, but Moody misses kick
Michigan takes over at the 45.
Joe Milton throws complete to Giles Jackson for a 5-yard gain on first down. Hassan Haskins is dropped for no gain on second down. Milton hits Roman Wilson over the middle for a nice 18-yard pickup.
Haskins gets it on first down, rushing for 8 to the 14-yard-line. He's then stuffed for no gain on second down. Minnesota gets through on third-and-2, bringing down Zach Charbonnet for a loss of 6.
Jake Moody's 38-yard field goal is no good.
Michigan 7, Minnesota 7 (7:14 1st)
Michigan's front 7 bringing the heat
Alright, let's see if we can get some stability here. Minnesota takes the field in a 7-7 game. We're only 2:27 into this one.
Mohamed Ibrahim rushes for 4 yards on first down. The Michigan front wrecks Minnesota's O-line on second down, bringing down Rashod Bateman for a loss of 5. Then it's Julius Welschof bringing down Tanner Morgan for a sack that loses 10 yards.
Minnesota's punt isn't a good one. It goes out of bounds at the Minnesota 45.
Michigan 7, Minnesota 7 (10:37 1st)
Michigan bounces back with 70-yard touchdown run from Charbonnet
Michigan's offense will try to regroup, again starting at the 30. The Wolverines already trail by 7 after the blocked punt.
They do, as Zach Charbonnet takes the first play of the drive 70 yards up the middle, untouched, for a Michigan touchdown.
Michigan 7, Minnesota 7 (12:33 1st)
Minnesota capitalizes on blocked punt with early touchdown
Two plays after the blocked punt, Minnesota punches it in. Tanner Morgan rolls out, waits, and fires to Ko Kieft for the 14-yard touchdown.
Minnesota 7, Michigan 0 (12:44 1st)
Michigan starts fast, crashes hard on opening drive
Joe Milton and the Michigan offense take the field for the first time this season, at the 30.
Milton throws a swing pass to freshman Blake Corum and he shoots upfield for a 24-yard gain to the Minnesota 46.
Milton rushes for 3 yards on the next play. Ben Mason is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, due to him blocking a man into the stands (not really but kind of).
Milton misses to Giles Jackson on the next play, bringing up third-and-very-long. Milton is sacked for a 5-yard loss.
Will Hart's punt is blocked by the Gophers and it's recovered at the Michigan 17.
Michigan 0, Minnesota 0 (13:26 1st)
Pregame
Michigan hits the road for its 2020 season opener for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday game at Minnesota. You can follow the action here with live updates throughout the game by Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.
Michigan at Minnesota
Kickoff: 7:30 Saturday, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
TV/radio: ABC/950
Line: Michigan by 2.5
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