It nearly took the entire season, but Michigan football (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) became bowl eligible with its 50-6 win over Northwestern (4-7, 2-6) on senior day. The Wolverines put a half century on the scoreboard for the first time since they beat Indiana 52-7 last season. Before Saturday, the most points Michigan scored in a game this season was 30 in week one against Fresno State.
Michigan Dominates on Senior Day
Northwestern had the first possession of the game, and it ended after five plays with an interception by graduate DB Aamir Hall. The Wolverines drove the ball down to the two before senior RB Kalel Mullings pounded in a touchdown. After forcing a three and out on defense the next possession, the Wolverines tacked on a field goal to make it 10-0 going into the second quarter.
The Wildcats added two field goals before the end of the half, but a three yard touchdown grab by junior tight end Colston Loveland made it 17-6 after two quarters. Loveland set a new single-season record for Michigan tight ends with 56 catches on the year.
The maize and blue ran away with the game in the second half, outscoring Northwestern 33-0. In his final game at the Big House, Mullings ended with 12 carries for 92 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. Senior running backs Donovan Edwards and Tavierre Dunlap scored one touchdown each.
Legendary Senior Class
The fourth-year seniors at Michigan have a unique distinction going forward: the best ever. With a 46-8 record, no other class in program history was better over a four season span. Players like Mullings and Edwards may not be ending their college careers the way they wanted, but they have loads of success to look back on. They have one more chance to go out with a bang next week as they try to knock off No. 2 Ohio State.
Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms