Michigan’s effective defense, underrated offense: The numbers behind the Wolverines’

Anthony Gharib, ESPNJan 8, 2024, 07:00 AM ET A season filled with headlines for the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines concludes on Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T versus the No. 2 Washington Huskies.The Wolverines steamrolled through the routine season, with 10 of their 13 victories being by double digits. They completed 13-0 for the second straight routine season and a win on Monday will break the Huge 10 record for the most wins in a single season.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at

the Rose Bowl, Michigan battled back

from a seven-point deficit in the 4th quarter to win, tied for its largest fourth-quarter return victory under head coach Jim Harbaugh, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Wolverines are now in their very first national championship game of the CFP era.Here are the crucial numbers behind Michigan’s unbeaten season. 9.5: The Wolverines’

defense dominated throughout the routine season, permitting simply 9.5 points per game, the least in a routine season given that the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2011(8.8). Michigan held eight of its challengers

to single-digit ratings– including two shutouts. The Wolverines’average points enabled reached 10.2 after the CFP semifinal.89.5: Quarterback J.J. McCarthy tossed for a career-high 2,851 passing backyards plus 22 goals and a career-low 4 interceptions. McCarthy also had an overall QBR of 89.5, the third-best in the country behind Oregon Ducks ‘Bo Nix and LSU Tigers ‘Jayden Daniels.25: Ball game in overtime of the Rose Bowl originated from a goal run by Blake Corum, his 25th of the season. That overall is one of the most in a season in Michigan history and tied for fifth-most in Big 10 history.Corum likewise has 56 career rushing goals, the most by any Wolverines player

and fourth-most all time in the Big 10.17: Michigan had an FBS-best turnover margin of plus-17 this

season. Its defense forced 25 turnovers, while its offense only had eight.36: It hasn’t all been the Wolverines’defense this season. Michigan’s offense balanced 36 points per game, second-most in the Big Ten and 14th-best in the FBS.ESPN Stats & Info research added to this short article.