CHICAGO – The No. 18th-ranked Michigan Wolverines took down the Northwestern Wildcats 24-22 to retain the George Jewett Trophy inside Wrigley Field.
The victory didn’t come easily as Michigan needed a late-game drive by true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and running back Bryson Kuzdzal to help set up the game-winning Dominic Zvada field goal to improve to 8-2 on the season.
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Underwood finished the day completing 21-32, 280 yards, one rushing touchdown, and two interceptions.
Underwood found a fellow freshman and future phenom, Andrew Marsh, who snagged a career high 12 catches for 189 yards and the game-extending catch with a bit of toe-tap.
Kuzdzal stepped up big time after Jordan Marshall went out with an injury, as he finished the day with 15 carries for 53 yards.
Before the injury, Marshall finished the day with 19 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
1st quarter
Northwestern won the toss and deferred, Underwood and the offense on the field first, where he completed a pass to Marshall for eight yards.
Marshall gained two yards on second down to move the sticks, but Underwood got sacked on first down for a five-yard loss by Aidan Hubbard.
Underwood completed a pass to Marsh for 10 yards and then completed a pass to Donaven McCulley for five yards to gain a first down.
Off a play action, Underwood found Marsh down the right sideline for a 32-yard catch and run, putting the ball in the Wildcats’ red zone.
Marshall gained three yards on first down, but Underwood got sacked again, losing six yards on second down.
On third and 13, Underwood handed the ball off to Marshall, who scored from the 16-yard line, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty.
Underwood completed a pass to tight end Marlin Klein for 11 yards to set up a 34-yard field goal for kicker Zvada, but he missed slightly to the right of the goalpost.
Northwestern took the field and gained four yards by running back Caleb Komolafe. He then rushed for another two yards, setting up a third and two.
On third down, Michigan’s defense jumped offsides and gave up an automatic first down.
Komolafe gained two yards on first down and one yard on second down, setting up a third and seven from their 34-yard line.
Quarterback Preston Stone completed his first pass of the game to Drew Wagner for six yards.
The punt unit ran a fake on fourth and one and got it to keep the chains moving.
On first down, Stone threw to Wagner, who pulled the Michigan defender down, but no flag was thrown on the play.
Ston had his pass batted down by Enow Etta.
On third and 10, Stone threw down the left sideline to receiver Griffin Wilde for a 36-yard completion, but after an official review, the ball fell incomplete, forcing the first punt of the game.
The punt was blasted 50 yards and downed to the Wolverines’ nine-yard line.
On their second possession of the game, Underwood completed a 12-yard pass to Marsh to move the sticks.
Underwood handed the ball off to tailback Kuzdzal for no gain, but Underwood completed a pass to Marsh for seven yards.
On third and three, Underwood found Zack Marshall for a four-yard gain.
He then hit Marsh for an 11-yard catch and run before throwing incomplete down the right sideline in the direction of McCulley.
Following an injury timeout, Underwood scrambled down the right sideline for 15 yards after his receivers were covered on second and 10.
After gaining the first down, Underwood gained another four yards to end the quarter.
The run-pass options were back in full effect as Underwood finished the quarter throwing 9-10 for 108 yards in the 0-0 game.
2nd quarter
On second and six at the 38-yard line, Jordan Marshall got no yards, but Underwood completed a bomb to Marsh for a 32-yard catch and run down to the Northwestern nine-yard line with 13:50 to play.
On first and goal from the six-yard line, Jordan Marshall toted the rock for five yards, moving the ball down to the one-yard line.
He ended up scoring on the next play after running the ball up the gut for six.
Zvada made the extra point to cap off a 12-play 91-yard drive, eating up 5:45 off the clock, leading 7-0.
After a touchback, Northwestern took the field, and Stone threw an incomplete to Wilde.
Stone, at this point in the game, has completed one of five passes for six yards.
He threw an incomplete pass on back-to-back plays to set up a punt on fourth down and eight to go.’
On their own 23, Underwood, on first down, took another sack, this time for six yards, setting up a second and 16 before throwing incomplete again, settling for another punt.
Northwestern had the ball on the 46-yard line after Wagner returned the ball for seven yards.
Joseph Himon II rushed for 7 yards on first down, then gained no yards, setting up a third-and-5, but they got a false start, moving them back 5 yards.
On third and 10, Stone completed to Himon II to move the sticks.
Wagner then gained nine yards before Stone completed a 17-yard pass to Hunter Welcing to the Michigan 10-yard line.
Himon II gained no yards on first down, and Northwestern got called for a pick, moving the ball back to the 23-yard line.
On second and 23, Stone completed a pass to Wagner for a gain of seven yards.
With 16 yards to gain for a touchdown, Stone threw incomplete to Welcing before kicker Jack Olsen made a field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
Following a touchback, Jordan Marshall toted the rock for a five-yard gain.
Underwood found McCulley for a seven-yard gain to pick up the first down.
Jordan Marshall gained six yards, setting up a second and four where Underwood ran a quarterback sprint right and threw the ball in the dirt as Marsh fell to the ground on the play.
On an unbelievable play, Underwood stood in the pocket and threw a wobbler after getting crushed, but tight end Deakon Tonielli caught the wobbler for eight yards to continue the drive.
Jordan Marshall rushed the ball for 12 yards before Underwood tossed the ball backwards to Marsh on a halfback fake, and the defender was all over the play, forcing a fumble with the ball on the 47-yard line.
Marsh lost 10 yards on the play and was charged with the fumble.
With the ball, Northwestern’s Komolafe gained three yards on first down as the two-minute timeout was reached.
Feeling tricky, Northwestern ran a wide receiver pass play, but TJ Metcalf blasted Wagner for no gain.
On third and seven, Stone threw to Welcing, who broke loose for a 32-yard catch and run down to the eight-yard line.
Michigan got called for an illegal substitution, having 12 men on the field.
On Michigan’s four-yard line, Stone ran a play-action pass and had Welcing wide open in the endzone, but Jaishawn Barham tipped the ball as it fell to the ground.
Komolafe gained one yard, setting up a third and three, but Stone’s pass fell incomplete. The pass was intended for Wilde.
Rayshaun Benny got his paw on the ball to force the incompletion before Northwestern got called for a false start.
Olsen capped off the seven-play 39-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal as Michigan led 7-6 with one minute to play.
With the ball on the 25-yard line, Underwood found Marsh, his favorite of the day, for 17 yards to the 42-yard line.
Underwood found Marsh again, this time for 11 yards, and the duo connected again for a three-yard gain to stop the clock at 40 seconds.
The pass fell incomplete this time to Marsh, as Michigan needed to pick up seven yards with 35 seconds remaining.
Needing to keep the chains moving, Underwood left the pocket and got tackled after gaining two yards on the play.
With two seconds remaining, Michigan, on their own 42-yard line sent in Zvada for a 60-yard field goal attempt which went right of the goal post.
Michigan’s defense held Northwestern to 106 yards of total offense in the first half, but turnovers and poor play calling on offense led to the 7-6 score.
On the bright side, Underwood had 185 yards passing while completing 15-20 in the first half, but Jordan Marshall only ran the ball nine times for 36 yards.
Not to mention the Zvada missed two field goals, both of which went right of the goalpost, including the 60-yarder to end the half.
Those kicks would have made the score 13-6 at the half, with Northwestern getting the ball to open the third quarter, but Michigan found themselves in a dogfight to end the first half.
3rd quarter
Stone opened the half, connecting with Wilde for a 19-yard catch, moving the sticks to the 44-yard line.
After the first down, Northwestern got called for a false start, moving the ball back five yards.
On first and 15, Stone’s pass was broken up by Derrick Moore, before Komolafe got stuffed by Benny at the line of scrimmage for a gain of one yard.
Troy Bowles made a play on third and 14 as he tackled Welcing, who got four yards on the play, setting up a punt.
After making some halftime adjustments, Underwood had his pass tipped to start the drive, falling incomplete to the ground on first down.
Jordan Marshall gained three yards on second down from their own 18-yard line.
On third and seven, Underwood scrambled for eight yards to the 26-yard line for a first down.
Jordan Marshall nearly broke a long house call but was tackled down at the nine-yard line, picking up 65 yards on the play.
Underwood ran a quarterback option and tiptoed into the endzone for nine yards.
Zvada kicked the extra point to cap off a five-play 85-yard drive, which ate up 2:13, to take a 14-6 lead with 10:29 to play.
That big run by Jordan Marshall took him over the century mark as he had 11 carries for 113 yards to start the second half.
Stone opened the second possession of the second half for Northwestern, handing the ball off to Komolafe for a three-yard gain.
He then threw an incomplete pass down the left sideline to Wilde.
On third and seven, Stone nearly threw an interception, but Zeke Berry dropped it as the ball fell incomplete.
Semaj Morgan fumbled the punt and gave the ball back to Northwestern on their own 28-yard line.
Special teams have been hurting Michigan all day.
With a new lease on life, Stone handed the ball off to Himon II for a one-yard gain.
Brandyn Hillman made the stop on the play, but Himon II moved the chains for a 17-yard run down to the Michigan 18-yard line.
Himon II gained two yards on the next play, setting up a second and eight at the 16-yard line.
Northwestern got called for another false start, moving them back five yards to the 21-yard line.
On second and 13, Himon II gained four yards on the play before Stone threw an incomplete pass out of bounds.
Olsen made another field goal to cut into the deficit as Michigan led 14-9 with 6:09 to play.
Turnovers on special teams and two missed field goals have kept the game close as the Wolverines were letting the Wildcats hang around.
Joe Taylor returned the kickoff to the 20-yard line before Jordan Marshall gained six yards to start the drive.
Underwood found Marsh for a 13-yard catch to the 39-yard line.
Kuzdzal gained four yards before Underwood connected with McCulley for a 15-yard catch as the clock ticked under four minutes.
Michigan lost one yard after Kuzdzal tripped while trying to hit the wide-open hole.
Underwood found McCulley for a 21-yard catch and run as the RPOs were back in effect for Michigan.
Jordan Marshall gained one yard on first down before Tonielli was held in the endzone during a passing play by Underwood, moving the sticks to the two-yard line.
Michigan lost three yards as Jordan Marshall was tackled in the backfield.
Jordan Marshall gained four yards on second down, setting up a third and one and a dive over the line of scrimmage for his second score of the day.
He got hurt on the play and walked off the field gingerly.
Zvada capped off the 10-play 80-yard drive, which ate 5:23 off the clock, as Michigan took a 21-9 lead with 41 seconds remaining.
Stone got called for intentional grounding, but regained the yards with a 32-yard catch by Wilde.
He then completed a four-yard pass to Hayden Eligon II to end the quarter.
Before the fourth quarter began, three former Wildcat quarterbacks led the crowd in a sing-along to “Take me out to the ballgame.”
4th quarter
Stone completed a pass of three yards to Wagner before hitting Eligon II down the sideline for a 22-yard gain.
He then found Welcing down the middle of the field for a 22-yard gain, which went down to the one-yard line.
Stone kept the ball for a 1-yard touchdown, as Olsen made the extra point, bringing the score to 21-16 with 13 minutes to play in the game.
Michigan got the ball on its own 25-yard line in need of a touchdown, and on the first play, Underwood handed the ball off to Jordan Marshall for a one-yard gain.
On second and nine, Underwood threw incomplete to McCulley.
Needing to extend the drive, on third and nine, Underwood, with 12:19 to play, threw an interception by Jack Florentine and returned for 34 yards to the Michigan six-yard line.
Komolafe rushed the ball up the gut as Northwesten took its first lead of the game, leading 22-21 with 12:05 to play.
Stone threw an incomplete pass on the two-point conversion.
The turnover was Michigan’s third of the day as Marsh and Morgan fumbled, and Underwood threw an interception.
Michigan had the momentum with a double-digit lead and squandered it in mere seconds to trail by one.
Jordan Marshall gained three yards to open the possession and then followed that up with another big run, this time for 24 yards, but he got injured on the play.
Marshall had 19 carries for 142 yards before the injury.
He got off the field in some severe pain, but Kuzdzal entered the game and gained eight yards on the play.
Kuzdzal got the gall again, this time, capping off a three-yard run to move the sticks.
Michigan kept feeding him as Kuzdzal gained six yards, setting up a second and four.
Instead of riding the hot hand, Michigan decided to have Underwood pass and got intercepted in the red zone for their fourth turnover of the game.
Robert Fitzgerald got the turnover for Northwestern.
With the ball, Komolafe gained one yard on first down before Stone threw complete to Albright for four yards.
On third and five, Stone’s pass fell incomplete in the direction of Welcing, broken up by Jordan Young.
Marsh returned the punt 12 yards to the 41-yard line with 7:20 to play in the game.
Kuzdzal opened the drive with a six-yard run, setting up a second and six.
Underwood found Marsh for a 20-yard catch and run to the Northwestern 33-yard line.
Kuzdzal carried the ball for no gain, then gained eight yards to the Northwestern 25-yard line.
On third and two, running back Jasper Parker gained one yard, setting up a pivotal fourth and one.
Kuzdzal fumbled the ball, turning the ball over for the fifth time as a team on the day.
Stone threw an incomplete pass on first down, with 4:16 to play.
Northwestern got a big play on second down, but it was called back due to a holding penalty.
On second and 20, with the ball on their own 16-yard line, Himon II got tackled for a loss of three yards by Barham.
Komolafe carried the ball for five yards, setting up for a punt on fourth and 18 as the clock ticked to 2:10 to play in the game.
Trailing by one with all three timeouts and the two-minute timeout, Underwood, from his own 37-yard line, threw the ball incomplete.
On second down and 10, Underwood threw the ball incomplete out of the area of Morgan as the clock hit the two-minute timeout.
On third and 10, with the game on the line, Underwood found his favorite in Marsh, who got both feet down in bounds while falling out of bounds for a 24-yard gain.
With 1:55 to play, Underwood found Zack Marshall for two yards, setting up a third and five, where Underwood used his legs to gain the first down.
Kuzdzal gained four yards on first down before head coach Sherrone Moore called his second timeout of the half.
On second and six, Kuzdzal rushed the ball for one yard, causing Northwestern to call their second timeout of the half.
Kuzdzal gained five yards on the play to keep the drive alive before gaining another five yards as Michigan ran the clock down to two seconds.
History
Michigan and Northwestern battled for the 78th time in a key Big Ten matchup.
Michigan has won 39 of its last 45 games against conference opponents, showcasing consistent dominance.
The Wolverines lead the all-time series 61-15-2 and have won 36 of 40 games played between the football programs dating back to 1966.
Michigan has won 14 of the last 15 games in the series, with its lone loss (21-14) coming at Michigan Stadium in 2008.
Saturday’s game was the first time the two programs matched up inside Wrigley Field.
The last time Michigan played inside a baseball stadium was in the aforementioned 2008 season, winning 29-6 over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome during the football program’s final season.