Postgame Notes: Michigan 50, Northwestern 6
11/23/2024 7:06:00 PM | Football
• Today's announced attendance of 109,830 marks the 323rd consecutive crowd of 100,000-plus at Michigan Stadium.
• Today's honorary captain was former U-M All-American and NFL veteran of nearly a decade, Taylor Lewan.
• In the 77th meeting between Michigan and Northwestern, the Wolverines improved to 60-15-2 all-time, winning 35 of the last 39 games played between the two teams.
• Today's win improved the Wolverines to 37-6-2 against Northwestern in games played in Ann Arbor.
• In the second matchup played for the George Jewett Trophy, the first rivalry game trophy named for an African American player in FBS history, Michigan improved to 2-0. The Wolverines won the inaugural trophy game over Northwestern 33-7 during the 2021 season.
• Twenty-three players have made their collegiate debut for Michigan, including Jadyn Davis, Micah Ka'apana, Alexander Lidback, Jack MacKinnon, Max Reyes, and Peter Simmons, who all appeared in today's game. Other Wolverines to make collegiate debuts this season include: Chibi Anwunah (edge), Manuel Beigel (defensive line), Mason Curtis (defensive back), Jo'Ziah Edmond (defensive back), Channing Goodwin (wide receiver), Jake Guarnera (offensive line), Hogan Hansen (tight end), Jason Hewlett (linebacker), Breeon Ishmail (edge), Ike Iwunnah (defensive line), Bryson Kuzdzal (running back), Evan Link (offensive line), Jordan Marshall (running back), Dominic Nichols (edge), Jacob Oden (defensive back), Andrew Sprague (offensive line), and Cole Sullivan (linebacker).
• Michigan scored a season-high 50 points in today's game. They scored points on eight of ten offensive drives (six touchdowns, two field goals), including five consecutive scores in the second half.
• The offense had 25 total first downs, the most this season (previously 20 vs. Illinois).
• On the first possession of the game, defensive back Aamir Hall recorded his first interception as a Wolverine.
• Then, Michigan capped off an 11-play, 53-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown from running back Kalel Mullings. Entering today, the Wildcat defense had allowed just three points on opening drives all season, tied for the second-fewest in the FBS (per FS1 broadcast).
• Michigan also scored on the opening drive of the second half, which featured five consecutive carries for 75 yards. The drive was set up by a 47-yard run from Mullings, marking the third-longest rush of his career (53, 63 yards, both in 2024).
• Michigan threw the ball 24 times in the first half. Entering the game, the Wolverines averaged 24.2 pass attempts per game.
• Mullings scored his 9th, 10th, and 11th rushing touchdowns of the season, marking the fifth multi-touchdown game of his career and his first-ever three-touchdown game. It is the first time a Michigan player has scored three or more touchdowns since running back Blake Corum vs. Purdue (three, 2023).
• With his first reception of the game, Colston Loveland set a new record for single-season catches by a Michigan tight end (54), breaking a tie with previous record-holder Bennie Joppru (53 catches, 2002). With three catches today, the record is now at 56.
• With 22 receiving yards and one touchdown today, Loveland moved into a tie for second with Jake Butt in career receiving touchdowns by a tight end with 11.
• Wide receiver Tyler Morris led the receiving room and recorded a career-high seven receptions for 64 yards.
• Running back Donovan Edwards, with four receptions in today's game, moved into third all-time in receptions for a Michigan running back with 84 career receptions after surpassing B.J. Askew (83, 1999-02).
• Edwards punched in a 20-yard touchdown to extend Michigan's lead in the fourth quarter. It is his third rushing touchdown this season and 19th of his career.
• Running back Jordan Marshall took his first career rushing attempt for eight yards, finishing with seven carries for 17 yards on the day. He returned a 63-yard kickoff to set up a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
• After Marshall's kick return, running back Tavierre Dunlap took his first carry this season for a 20-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career.
• In the first half, the Michigan defense held Northwestern to 84 total yards and one-for-six on third-down conversions. That marked the fewest yards allowed by the Wolverines in the first half this season.
• Northwestern's 43 second-half yards marked the second consecutive game that Michigan has held an opposing offense to under 50 yards in the second half (18 vs. Indiana).
• Today's matchup marked the seventh time in eight Big Ten games this year that the Michigan defense reached at least 6.0 tackles for loss. It was the team's sixth game (in eight) with at least 3.0 sacks.
• The defense's 6.0 sacks today are the most of the season.
• Defensive back Mason Curtis' third-quarter interception marked the first of his career.
• Defensive lineman Kenneth Grant posted a first-quarter sack, his third of the season.
• Linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the team leader in tackles, posted a second-quarter sack, his second of the season.
• Edge Josaiah Stewart recorded 2.0 sacks and 2.0 TFL in today's game, marking his third game this season with multiple sacks. He leads the team with 13 TFL, including 8.5 sacks.
• Edge TJ Guy posted a sack in the second half. He has 5.5 sacks this season, including three over the last two games.
• Defensive back Zeke Berry's second-quarter pass breakup was the seventh of his career and fifth in his last three games.
• Kicker Dominic Zvada is 15-for-16 (one blocked) after converting two field goals in today's game.
• Zvada's first attempt was a 56-yarder, his second conversion from that distance in as many games. It marked his sixth field goal of 50-plus yards this season (52, 53, 55, 53, 56, 56), extending the school record.
