Get to Know the Wolverines, Bowl Edition

Dec. 20, 2016

Offense

• Michigan ranks in the top 30 nationally of nine (9) offensive categories: turnovers lost (6th), fourth-down conversions (10th), scoring offense (12th), interceptions (13th), red-zone offense (15th), fumbles lost (16th), completion percentage (26th), sacks allowed (28th) and rushing offense (30th).

• U-M has been a balanced offensive unit this fall, averaging 233.3 yards per game on the ground and 216.1 yards passing, gaining 2,679 rushing yards and 2,593 passing yards.

• The offense has reached the end zone a total of 59 times this season (40 rushing touchdowns and 19 passing scores); the 59 TDs are the most that a U-M team has scored in the modern era.

• Michigan is sixth nationally in fewest turnovers (11; six interceptions and five fumbles).

• U-M's offensive line has a combined 157 career starting assignments: Ben Braden (35), Ben Bredeson (7), Mason Cole (37), Kyle Kalis (42) and Erik Magnuson (36).

• A total of 22 Wolverines have caught passes this season.

First Half Dominance

• Michigan has jumped on its opponents early and often this season, outscoring teams 287-60 in the first 30 minutes.

• U-M has outscored the opposition by a 115 to 28 margin in the first quarter this season and held 10 of its 12 opponents without any points.

• Just as impressive is the Wolverines' second-quarter domination, scoring 172 points while yielding just 32 to the opposition.

U-M Grounding Out Yards

• The offense has gained 2,679 rushing yards on 538 carries (5.0 avg.) and scored 40 rushing TDs.

• Four running backs have rushed for 400-plus yards this season: De'Veon Smith (810), Chris Evans (565), Karan Higdon (422) and Ty Isaac (417).

• The Wolverines have rushed for 300-plus yards in three contests this season: 306 yards vs. Hawaii, 326 yards vs. Penn State and a 481-yard effort on 56 attempts are Rutgers.

• Michigan has had 21 players carry the football this year.

U-M Among Nation's Top Scoring Squads

• U-M is averaging 216.1 passing yards and 223.2 rushing yards per contest this season.

• The Wolverines have run 870 offensive plays for 5,272 yards, an average of 6.1 yards per play.

• Michigan is 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 41.0 points per contest.

Defense Leads the Nation

• U-M leads college football in pass defense, tackles-for-loss and third-down defense.

• The Wolverines are second nationally in six categories: scoring defense, total defense, pass efficiency, sacks, red-zone defense and first downs allowed.

• U-M is third nationally behind Alabama (6.23) and Clemson (5.69) in three-and-outs, averaging 5.5 per contest; the defense has forced 66 three-and- outs in 151 possessions (43.7%).

• The Wolverines lead the Big Ten and are second nationally in red-zone defense (68 pct.).

• Has allowed just 25 red-zone opportunities with 17 conversions (11 TDs, six FGs).

• The 25 red-zone trips for the opposition is the fewest in the country.

• U-M is second to Alabama in total defense (252.7 yards per game).

• U-M has allowed just 40 points in the fourth quarter this season; held five opponents scoreless during the final stanza and yielded only a field goal to four other opponents.

• The defense has focused on stopping the run early, allowing on average just 25.8 rushing yards per game in the first quarter.

• The Wolverines have batted down 62 passes by the opposition, led by Channing Stribling (16), Jourdan Lewis (12), Mike McCray (8), Dymonte Thomas (8) and Delano Hill (6).

Defense Dominates on Third Down

• U-M leads the nation in third-down defense, allowing the opposition to convert just 21 percent of its third-down chances (34-163).

• No opponent has converted more than six third-down chances against U-M this season.

Special Teams

• U-M is third nationally and first in the Big Ten with six blocked kicks -- two field goals and four punts; this total does not include three deflected punts and a punt by the opposition into its own player.

• Michigan's four blocked punts lead the nation.

• U-M leads the Big Ten and is eighth nationally in punt returns (15.57 avg.).

• Forty-seven (47) of the team's 88 kickoffs have been downed for touchbacks (53.4 avg.).

University of Michigan Athletics

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