Michigan dominates Oregon State, 35-7

Did Harbaugh take a moment to enjoy his first game as a coach at Michigan Stadium, where he played and attended games as a kid when his father was an assistant coach?

Michigan might be without starting cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who has started two games this year and nine in his career, because he was diagnosed with a concussion during the win over the Beavers.

The Oregon State pulled off a 26-7 win over Weber State in Week 1 of the college football schedule. On Michigan’s first possession, Wolverines blockers failed to pick up Oregon State’s Rommel Mageo, who got a free run at Rudock and crushed the quarterback.

“It was good to get the running game going”, Harbaugh said.

Running back Drake Johnson is closer to making a contribution against the Rebels and the following game at home against BYU, according to Harbaugh. “You don’t know how it’s going to play out”. The Wolverines went for it, and Rudock converted, finding Smith wide open in the middle of the field for a 20-yard gain to put Michigan in the red zone for the first time. He simply said he did his part. It may have changed momentum for a little bit.

For months, Michigan fans had waited to see Jim Harbaugh in the Big House. A slow start won’t cut it against teams like Ohio State and Michigan State, two squads that ramp things up early and don’t ever turn the pressure gauge down a notch. They have been pushed to the brink in recent years by the likes of Akron and Connecticut.

Michigan fumbled the ball twice, but TE Jake Butt was able to grab De’Veon Smith’s fumble out of the air. Last season the Beavers were sixth most penalized team in the nation (79.8 yards per game). He averaged 5.5 yards per carry.

Well, hard, strong football – Michigan State’s 197 rushing yards to 192 passing – edged out gorgeous football, which Oregon plays routinely.

Michigan State’s Aaron Burbridge celebrates with quarterback Connor Cook after scoring a touchdown Saturday against Oregon.

It showed a great knack for rebounding – from Oregon’s dizzying opening drive, from Bralon Addison’s 81-yard punt return for Oregon early in the third quarter. Senior defensive end Chris Wormley was in the backfield all afternoon, recording six tackles – including three for loss – and one sack. He was 18-of-26 passing for 180 yards.

“It’s a consideration, yes”, Harbaugh said of the potential to redshirt.

It was slow and methodical – what radio announcer and former U-M All-American Dan Dierdorf called “Bo 101”, the basic brand of football he and Harbaugh once learned as players under the late Bo Schembechler. “We made a lot of plays that we needed to”.