Michigan State running back Calel Mullins celebrates a 1-yard touchdown against USC with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ann Arbor. . Michigan State took an old-school approach in the Big Ten opener. It may be more of the same on Saturday afternoon when the 12th-ranked Wolverines take on Minnesota in Ann Arbor, Miss.
The conference established its reputation years ago as “three yards and a cloud of dust.” It wasn't dusty on the field at Michigan State last Saturday, but the Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) stuck to their ground-and-punch philosophy, rushing for 290 yards on 46 carries in a 27-24 win. No. at that time. 11 Southern California.
Alex Orji, playing quarterback for the first time in his career, threw for just 32 yards on 12 carries. He had more rushing yards, rushing for 43 yards.
Augie was added to the lineup after Davis Warren threw six interceptions in Michigan's first three games of the season.
Wolverines coach Sherron Moore wants to keep the passing game going, but he won't stray too far from his successful formula on the ground.
“It's good. It's nice to get that first experience and game as a starter, especially in a big game and a great atmosphere like Saturday,” Moore said of Augie's debut . “So, yeah, there's a lot of things we can add and things we can do to complement the running game.
“Obviously, the run game is successful, but we want to be balanced and we've been through games like this the past few years and we have to win like that and (we're) not afraid that as long as we win, we're going to win Will keep going.
Kalel Mullings played a huge role in the win, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.4 yards per carry. He threw the game-winning touchdown with 37 seconds left.
Not bad for a backup. Donovan Edwards is the starter and had a 41-yard rushing score against the Trojans, but Mullings is Michigan's most explosive player so far . Moore was trying to decide whether Mullins should be given the lead back.
“Karrell had a great game and you can't deny the impact he had on the game,” Moore said. “So we would just view those conversations as offensive.”
The Golden Gophers (2-2, 0-1) lost to Iowa State 31-14 in their conference opener last Saturday. Hawkeyes running back Caleb Johnson rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
That doesn't bode well for Minnesota as it prepares for a road game against a ranked team that nearly rushed for 300 yards the last time it took the field.
“We have to be able to stop the run, we know that,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. “They’re going to get something by making plays.”
Minnesota led Iowa 14-7 at halftime, but then it fell apart.
“I think it's a two-part story,” Fleck said. “I thought we did a really good job in the first half, but again, you can't stop Caleb Johnson… When you have someone that good and their offensive line is that good, I don't think you can. I think You can stop them and I thought in the first half we were able to do that, but really, it's just a matter of solving it.
The Gophers will rely on quarterback Max Brosmer (836 yards passing, five touchdowns) and top rusher Darius Taylor (6.3 yards per carry, three touchdowns) to pull off the upset. . The Badgers have won 26 of the past 28 times the two teams have met.
–Scene-level media