×

Michigan Wolverines’ promising football season takes hit with big loss at Wisconsin, 35-14

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor, left, runs against Michigan's Khaleke Hudson during the first half Saturday in Madison, Wis. (AP photo)

MADISON, Wis. — Just a few weeks ago, the possibilities seemed endless for Michigan.

The Wolverines came into their fifth season under Jim Harbaugh looking like a good bet to win the Big Ten. A spot in the College Football Playoff seemed like a real possibility, and the program’s first national championship since 1997 even appeared within reach.

And now?

The odds are looking about as long as one of Jonathan Taylor’s dashes for Wisconsin after the Badgers ran over the Wolverines 35-14 on Saturday.

“Everybody’s got to keep their head up,” defensive back Josh Metellus said. “It’s a long season. We’ve got nothing to get down about. We played a good team. They played one of their best games in the last couple of years.

“We’ve got a lot to look forward to. We’ve still got a great team. We’ve still got each other’s back when somebody falls. We’ve got to keep pushing.”

Michigan, which dropped nine spots to No. 20 following the loss, will try to regroup when it hosts Rutgers this week. Then comes what figures to be a tough matchup against No. 14 Iowa at the Big House on Oct. 5.

As for the Wisconsin game? Well, it stung.

Taylor ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns, Jack Coan added a career-high two rushing TDs and the Wolverines got serenaded with “Over-rated! Over-rated!” chants.

Michigan was outgained 487 yards to 299 and got dominated on the ground 359-40. The Wolverines lost two fumbles, threw two interceptions and a made a quarterback change, with Shea Patterson getting benched late in the first half in favor of Dylan McCaffrey. Patterson returned near the end of the third quarter after McCaffrey suffered a concussion on a shoulder-to-helmet hit by Wisconsin safety Reggie Pearson.

That was just another rough turn in a game that got away early.

Taylor had 143 yards and two scores, including a 72-yarder, in the first quarter. Coan dived in from the 1 midway through the second and scrambled 25 yards for another touchdown with about a minute left in the half to make it 28-0. The lead got to 35-0 in the third before Michigan scored the first two touchdowns against Wisconsin this season.

“It’s a gut check, for sure,” Harbaugh said.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today