No. 22 BYU roughed up, routed and humbled 31-0 at Michigan

“It’s been a neat three days, four days”, Harbaugh said. He still is missing wide open receivers, but at some point, we just need to realize that’s who he is. On Saturday, fans will get a look at how D.J. Durkin’s unit matches up against a legitimate offense. “It was a timely, timely play he made”. Tailback De’Veon Smith took a handoff into the scrum and emerged, breaking tackles and rumbling for a 60-yard touchdown.

But coach Jim Harbaugh liked what he saw out of Rudock, saying, “He looked like he was having fun, and just slinging it out there”. He brought Syracuse to 17-10 with a play-action 40-yard TD pass over the middle to Brisly Estime at 6:02 of the third and hit Ben Lewis on a 2-yard toss early in the fourth.

The play hearkened back memories of Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed grab for the New York Giants. Plus most of his completed passes are at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Michigan’s football program recognized Darboh’s citizenship the day before it became official with a celebration that included hamburgers, cake, balloons and “USA” chants.

“There were some, “USA” chants in the locker room”, he said. “It felt good”.

Wolverine QB Jake Rudock also rushed for 33 yards and two scores, one of which was sprung by an incredible block by WR Jehu Chesson. Perhaps it runs in the family; his brother Madison is a receiver for Idaho State and last weekend he caught five passes for 78 yards and scored three touchdowns.

“I didn’t see (tackling) being the big issue”, Mendenhall said. Smith burst through it like there was gold on the other side of the scrum.

“Nothing is ever easy, but I think we can certainly improve this week”.

The Cougars were shut out for the first time since 2003 – 143 games ago, and only the second time since 1975. Yet, Michigan destroyed the Cougars by a 31-0 count, outgaining BYU 448-to-105 in the process.

Just to show they were human, the Wolverines kicked a field goal for the first time since the season opener to push the margin to 31-0 by halftime.

Jim Harbaugh wanted to know, just like everyone else. “It goes back to the week of preparation”. Georgia Tech will host North Carolina next week, and a win would put them right back in the running.

Michigan’s defense has been very good all-around, too.

Michigan running back De’Veon Smith (4) breaks away from BYU… His teammates engulfed him, and tight end Jake Butt was particularly euphoric. I was pretty excited about that.

It was maize and blue pandemonium. He also caught the games only receiving touchdown.

But the dominant force was 3-1 Michigan’s defense, which couldn’t create a turnover but did everything else to the overmatched Cougars, including forcing three-and-outs on six straight BYU possessions. But they wanted more on Saturday and got it.

The overall special teams effort, though, wasn’t great, either. But that’s what happens when you’ve disappointed for as long as the Wolverines have for nearly the last 10 years. And if you were to pause the film at that moment, you’d swear he had him.

Mahoney got the start after keying last week’s 30-27 overtime victory over Central Michigan with a timely third-down completion in extra time.