Dominant on both sides, Michigan makes statement in crushing BYU

But before we start to speculate on what will come next for Harbaugh & Co., let’s take a moment to appreciate this for it was.

This looks like the best Michigan team since 2011, but we won’t know for sure until back-to-back games against Northwestern and Michigan State. All four games are winnable, but three (Connecticut, Cincinnati, and ECU) will all provide much-needed tests for the Cougars. Coach Jim Harbaugh presented him with a game ball in the locker room and his teammates celebrated with “U.S.A.” chant.

“To be clear Jake Rudock is our best quarterback and not by a small margin”, Harbaugh told reporters.

If anyone anticipated a letdown from the maize and blue prior to shattering open conference play, they were clearly mislead. Twenty-seven of those yards came BYU’s final possession of the game.

Michigan’s hard-nose defense began to take control late in the first quarter when Glasgow blew up a run for a six-yard loss. All that’s particularly different on the calendar is the mile-long run.

Houston Cougars’ strong safety Adrian McDonald celebrates after recovering a fumble in the second quarter of a NCAA college football game at TDECU Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2015, in Houston.

The 55 yards through the air was the worst Cougar performance since the 3-0 loss to Utah in 2003 – which was a first-time quarterback playing in frigid weather.

After the leveling of BYU’s offense, Michigan’s defensive numbers are gaudy.

On the first drive, he executed a handsome play fake and held the ball on third down before hitting tight end Khalid Hill over the middle down to the 1, before running the touchdown in himself two plays later. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Cougar IMG Sports Network, KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM and BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.

Asked the nature of the injury, although Michigan officials called it an ankle injury after the game, he would not be specific.

Running back Adam Hine added 33 yards on eight carries. But the offense responded immediately, scoring on five consecutive drives to bury BYU.

The only notable mistake by the Wolverines was on fourth and 16. There was definitely miscommunication between the coaching staff and O’Neill judging by reactions from both parties after the play.

Nobody had to do anything superhuman for Michigan to score 31 points. The Wolverines could not score and neither could BYU.

FLORIDA +1.5, over Tennessee: This is the Vols’ first road game, which is always a tricky situation against a half-decent home-underdog Gator club.

ABOUT BYU (2-1): Standout senior nose tackle Travis Tuiloma, who was originally supposed to miss 4-to-6 weeks after injuring his knee against Nebraska, could return to the lineup in time to face the Wolverines. During that 2013 season, Michigan, who were ranked No. 17 and defeated the No. 14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Clearly, the program’s confidence was rocked, as the site of Michigan’s incessantly played “Hail to the Victors” song became hell for the visitors from the first snap to the last, by Anae’s description.