Indianapolis, IN–The Michigan Wolverines entered in the Big Ten championship game for the second year in a row completely dominating their archival Ohio State Buckeyes 45-23 on the road.
A career performance by sophomore Running Back Donovan Edwards sealed the game with two break away runs, racking up 216 yards for the game. JJ McCarthy completed 12 of 24 passes for 263 yards and three huge touchdown tosses, giving the Wolverines their 2nd straight appearance in the College football playoffs. Michigan beat Purdue 43-22 on Saturday night for its second straight Big Ten title and a likely No. 2 playoff seed.
The Purdue Boilermakers made it to their 1st Big Ten Championship game in the schools’ history after a commanding 30-16 victory over instate rivals Indiana Hoosiers. Charlie Jones showed why he is one of the nation’s best receivers with 4 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Senior QB Aidan O’Connell had a masterful performance going 18-29 290 yards and two touchdowns.
Purdue’s football program has an impressive record 17 victories over five top teams when unranked. Under Head Coach Jeff Brohm, the Boilermakers are 3-1 against their top five opponents including two wins this season. This game had significant meaning for both teams. Should Purdue prevailed, it would be their first trip to the Rose Bowl in 21 years (last appearance-2001). If Michigan won, it would be their second straight college football playoff appearance and potential rematch with Ohio State.
Michigan came out gate in this 2022 Big Ten Championship game ferocious on defense, forcing a three and out on Purdue’s opening possession. Each of the first three plays netted negative yardage including a sack by Jaylen Harrell for a loss of 7-yards. Michigan’s offense took full advantage of the short field, mixing up the play calling with a balance of the run and pass capped off with a 25 yard touchdown pass from JJ McCarthy to Colston Loveland to get the party started.
“We just kept pressing on them and we knew that eventually the game plan would work. We were just happy to pull away at the end and put the game away.” Michigan OL Olusegun Oluwatim said.
McCarthy, picking up where he left off a week ago, remained red hot completing 3-4 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
But Aidan O’Connell would not be outdone putting Charlie Jones (3 rec for 46 on the drive) to work marched the Boilermakers down the field in 10 plays for 92-yards. Punctuated with one yard touchdown run by freshman sensation Devin Mockobee to knot the game up at 7-7.
Purdue opens the 2nd quarter in Michigan’s territory, but was only able to get a 33-yard field by senior kicker Mitchell Fineran to put the Boilermakers ahead 10-7. The Wolverines responded with methodical drive of their own, 13 plays for 75 yards, capped off with a 7-yard touchdown strike from McCarthy to Luke Schoonmaker to put Michigan back on top 14-10.
Purdue’s put together another drive which drove the ball to Michigan’s end of the field but had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Mitchell Fineran to keep the Boilermakers close 14-13 going into the break.
The Wolverines exploded out of halftime with Donovan Edwards going 60-yards on the ground to setup Michigan’s 1st touchdown of the half 5 plays 75 yards, extending their lead to 21-13 after a one-yard touchdown run by Kalel Mullings.
JJ McCarthy, with a ton of time to navigate the defense, picking up yards in chunks completed a 40 pass to Luke Schoonmaker, capped off the 2 play 67 yard drive with Donovan Edwards 27 yard touchdown expanding their lead to 28-13. They never trailed again.
“We know what we need to do, how we need to adjust to mistakes being made in the first half and how to clean them up. That’s always the message in the locker room, cleaning up the little things, cleaning up the things that need to be fixed. We know we’re going to be fine.” Michigan LB Kamel Mullings said.
UP Next:
Michigan Wolverines potential match up with Archrival Ohio State Buckeyes in rematch, this time in the College Football playoffs.
The Purdue Boilermakers will have to await bowl game announcements on Sunday.
