Ann Arbor, MI -- Chad Henne completed 20-of-31 passes for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Mike Hart added two scores, and fourth-ranked Michigan defeated Northern Illinois, 33-17, in the season opener for both schools at the Big House.

Hart hauled in a 34-yard TD reception and then added a short two-yard TD run. The Big Ten's top rusher from a year ago rushed 27 times for 117 yards, while catching four passes for 49 yards for Michigan (1-0), which has not dropped a season opener at home since a 24-19 setback to Notre Dame in 1989.

The loss of the school's all-time leading receiver, Braylon Edwards to the NFL, didn't show on Saturday as Jason Avant caught nine balls for 127 yards and a score.

Garrett Wolfe scored on a 76-yard run and ended with 148 yards on 17 carries for Northern Illinois (0-1), which was looking to build from last season's first bowl bid in more than two decades.

However, on this day the Huskies were simply outclassed by a more talented Wolverine squad. Northern Illinois quarterback Phil Horvath ended 17-of-25 passing for 200 yards and an interception in the loss.

Michigan wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as the home team capitalize on the game's opening drive. A 14-play, 74-yard series was capped by Henne's four-yard scoring strike to Avant, staking the Wolverines to a 7-0 lead with 9:34 left in the first quarter.

Northern Illinois, though, responded on its first series of the day when Chris Nendick booted a 24-yard field-goal to make it 7-3 with 2:41 left in the stanza.

However, Michigan needed just 2:14 to gain some breathing room. A six-play, 68-yard drive was culminated with Henne's 34-yard scoring strike to Hart, who made a nice catch in the corner of the end zone, as the home team took a 14-3 lead into the second quarter.

The Huskies proved pesky and needed just two plays to get back into the contest. On the second offensive play of the second quarter, Wolfe took a handoff, went off left tackle and did the rest. The 2004 All-MAC First Team selection, sprinted down the left sidelined and then made a gorgeous cut back inside to polish of a 76-yard TD run, pulling Northern Illinois to within 14-10 early in the second quarter.

The momentum was short-lived as Michigan answered on its ensuing possession to take a 20-10. Hart's short TD run ended a 13-play, 63-yard drive that gave the Wolverines a 10-point lead with 8:48 left in the firsthalf. A pass interference call in the end zone kept the drive alive. The extra point was blocked

The Huskies squandered a great scoring chance midway through the second when Wolfe's fumble deep in Wolverines' territory halted a nice drive.

Michigan then broke the game open thanks to another costly miscue by Northern Illinois late in the half. Shatone Powers fumbled a punt return that was recovered by Ross Ryan on the Huskies' 14-yard line. Three plays later, Kevin Grady's one-yard TD plunge gave the Wolverines a commanding 27-10 lead as both teams headed into the locker room.

After a scoreless third quarter, Michigan added to its lead courtesy of a pair of field goals by Garrett Rivas. He booted a 38-yarder early in the fourth and then connected on a 23-yarder for a 33-10 cushion.

The Huskies A.J. Harris added a three-yard TD run late in the fourth for the final margin.

Game Notes

Michigan improved to 19-0 all-time against MAC opponents, while Northern Illinois fell to 1-26-1 against Big Ten foes since 1971...The Huskies have not beaten a ranked opponent since they upset Iowa State in 2003.