From left, Michigan running back Hassan Haskins rushes past tight end Carter Selzer and Minnesota defender Thomas Rush for a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday in Minneapolis. (AP photo)

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The enormity of the moment hit him in the locker room, just before taking the field at Minnesota.

“I started tearing up,” Milton said. “It’s real and it’s time to prove to the world what I can do.”

Milton delivered two touchdowns and 277 total yards in an unflappable debut, and the No. 18 Wolverines trampled the No. 21 Gophers with 258 rushing yards in a 49-24 victory Saturday night.

“I felt great. I was comfortable. I didn’t panic,” said Milton, who went 15 for 22 for 225 yards and rushed eight times for 52 yards.

Michigan quarterback Joe Milton throws to preepare for the Wolverines' game with Minnesota on Saturday in Minneapolis. (AP photo)

Zach Charbonnet burst through the middle untouched for a 70-yard score in the first quarter, the first of five rushing touchdowns that set the tone for Michigan’s dominance on offense. Donovan Jeter followed by scoring on a 15-yard scoop of an airborne fumble forced by a blitzing Michael Barrett, one of five sacks by the Wolverines.

Defensive coordinator Don Brown dialed up pressure from every direction, and Michigan’s front seven — led by defensive end Kwity Paye — was as fierce as advertised.

“I just have to be better, period,” said Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan, who went 18 for 31 for 197 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Barrett added a 66-yard kickoff return to set up Milton’s scoring pass to Ben Mason that capped a 21-point first quarter.

“I really trusted in our team. I believe in them in that way,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “That’s the way I visualized this game to happen.”

The Wolverines averaged 8.6 yards per play.

“Our team is a ticking time bomb. You never know whenever a big play can happen, either offensively or defensively,” Barrett said. “We just have a lot of guys that have that ‘it’ factor.”

With the Wolverines leading 28-17 late in the second quarter, Gophers coach P.J. Fleck ordered a fake punt on fourth-and-4 at their own 31, an obvious sign of how overwhelmed their defense was. Tight end Ko Kieft, who had given the Gophers a 7-0 lead with a touchdown catch, took the snap as the upback but was stuffed for a 2-yard loss.

“We had a really good look for it,” Fleck said.

Hassan Haskins rushed six times for 82 yards and two TDs for U of M, whose only obvious mistakes were on special teams — allowing a blocked punt in the first quarter and three missed field goals by Jake Moody.

“We know we’re much better than what we showed,” said Gophers linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin.

Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns for the Gophers, who hosted a nearly-empty stadium with the Big Ten starting under strict health protocols during the pandemic. Only family members of players and staff, less than 1,000, were distanced throughout the lower bowl.