Michigan’s drive for perfection ended in agonizing fashion. Coach Jim Harbaugh says he doesn’t believe players will dwell on the second-half collapse.
The No. 9 Wolverines gave away a 16-point lead to in-state rival Michigan State on Saturday in a 37-33 defeat, their first loss of the season. Michigan will need to recover by this Saturday night, when they host unranked Indiana.
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“I’ve seen the team for a long time now, the way they respond,” Harbaugh said. “Whether it’s a setback or chatter. I know how they’re going to respond. … which is come back with more resolve, more determined, to prepare and get ready for our next ball game.”
The Wolverines (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) could still win the Big Ten championship and reemerge in the College Football Playoff race but they no longer have a margin for error. They will likely need to win their remaining four regular-season games, including the annual finale against arch-rival Ohio State, to reach those goals.
“The Michigan football team, the 2021 team, is going to be defined by what’s already taken place and what they do this Saturday, and what they do the Saturday after that, the Saturday after that, and the Saturday after that,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what’s going to define us.”
Michigan’s run defense needs to tighten up after Spartans running back Kenneth Walker III piled up 197 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Cade McNamara threw for a career-best 383 passing yards but the running back duo of Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins was limited to 104 yards on 27 carries.
“You don’t want the backs to be hit on the line of scrimmage,” Harbaugh said.
The Wolverines unveiled a new receiving option in freshman Andrel Anthony, who caught six passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He hadn’t caught a pass before Saturday.
“To have that performance, it showed what I have been doing has paid off a lot,” Anthony said. “It makes the work learning about the plays, coverages…
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