The fourth-ranked Wolverines beat Rutgers, 42-7, on Saturday.
Jim Harbaugh sang the praises of Chris Ash and his Rutgers football team after Michigan’s 42-7 win on Saturday.
Now Ash is returning the favor.
Asked Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference about the fourth-ranked Wolverines, the Rutgers head coach spent some detailing what he saw from Michigan.
« I saw a pretty complete football team, » said Ash, a former Ohio State assistant who’s now in his third season at Rutgers. « I saw a team that is built really kind of how you want your teams to be built. »
Michigan (9-1,7-0 Big Ten) scored its ninth straight win of the season by scoring 35 unanswered points to beat the Scarlet Knights. The Wolverines totaled 435 yards of offense and did not record a single turnover.
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Meanwhile, Rutgers mustered 252 yards of offense and got a first-quarter touchdown on an 80-yard run by running back Isiah Pacheco. But scoring opportunities were few thereafter, a tribute to Michigan’s No. 1-ranked defense.
After the win, the Wolverines are now a win over Ohio State away (or a win this Saturday and OSU loss) from clinching the Big Ten East and an invite to the league title game.
« They got a good offensive line, » Ash said. « They’ve got a great defensive line. They’re getting good quarterback play. If you can do those three things, you have a chance to win a lot of games.
« They are doing those three things at an exceptional level right now. »
INJURY NOTES: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh did not have an update on safety Josh Metellus, who sat out Saturday’s game vs. Rutgers with a soft-tissue injury last week in practice.
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« We’ll practice today and see where he’s at, » Harbaugh said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference.
— Harbaugh was also asked about an updated timeline on QB Dylan McCaffrey, who has been out for more than week with a broken collarbone
« Probably not going to be available (this season), but I don’t know for sure, » Harbaugh said. « He’ll be back for spring ball. »
AWARDS BANQUET: Michigan football’s annual awards banquet, or « bust, » is moving to Ann Arbor this year and will be open to the public, for a price.
The school announced Tuesday this year’s event will be held on Dec. 9, a Sunday, at Crisler Center. The event starts at 3 p.m., with doors to Crisler opening at 2.
Tickets will be $15 for lower-level seats and $10 for upper-level seats. Michigan students can get in the door for $5. The general public will be able to purchase tickets beginning Monday.
