Michigan wins second straight Big Ten Championship, beating Purdue 43-22
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 03: Donovan Edwards #7 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball during the first half in the Big Ten Championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Michigan's redzone defense held up strong against the Purdue Boilermakers as the Wolverines captured their second straight Big Ten Championship.
Michigan jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the Purdue Boilermakers by scoring on their first drive of the night on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland. The touchdown came at the end of a 55-yard drive that took less than four minutes as Michigan seemed to have their way with the Boilermakers defense.
HOW TO WATCH: Michigan vs Purdue in the BIg Ten Championship game
The Wolverines were the first to score on the night after the defense forced Purdue into a quick 3-and-out that resulted in a -10 yard drive that featured a sack by DE Jaylen Harrell for a loss of 7. But Purdue's offense quickly turned that around and drove down the field for a 92-yard touchdown drive to tie the score at 7 with a t little more than 5 minutes to go.
After Purdue's defense forced a 3-and-out, Michigan's defense did the same - or so it seemed. Purdue ran a fake punt and picked up the first down by less than an inch. On the next play, Purdue QB Aidan O'Connell connected with Charlie Jones - a lifelong friend and teammate - for 25 yards to get deep into Michigan territory to end the first quarter.
But the defense held, forcing Purdue to send out kicker Mitchell Fineran for a field goal and taking the lead for the first time at 10-7.
Michigan took the lead on a 7-yard touchdown to tight end Luke Schoonmaker, which capped a 75-yard drive, which nearly stalled at the Purdue 3. As Michigan was facing a 4th and 6 and opted for a field goal attempt. But Purdue jumped offsides and Michigan converted on 4th and 1.
Purdue then went on a 13-play drive that took over 5 minutes but Michigan's defense again held them to a field goal.
With a little more than a minute left, Michigan tried to drive but went 3-and-out, giving Purdue a shot at some points before the end of the half. The Boilermakers got it to mid-field but a holding penalty was costly, forcing Purdue to regain the yards lost on the penalty and the Boilermakers tried to set up a Hail Mary but Michigan's defense stood up, forcing a throw away by O'Connell.
At halftime, Michigan holds a 14-13 lead.
Coming out of halftime, Michigan's Donovan Edwards ripped off a 60-yard run on the first play from scrimmage to get the Wolverines to the Purdue 15. Four plays later, Kalel Mullings punched it in from the 1, extending the Michigan lead to 21-13.
After another 3-and-out, the skill of the Wolverines started to show as J.J. McCarthy connected with Schoonmaker for a 40-yard gain. On the next play, Edwards ran in it from the 27-yard-line for his first touchdown of the game, putting Michigan up 28-13.
On the next drive, Purdue was pushing Michigan's defense and had the ball at their 25-yard-line - until O'Connell underthrew his receiver and was intercepted by CB Will Johnson at the Michigan 1-yard-line.
McCarthy and the offense were able to get out from the shadow of their goal posts but still had to punt it back to Purdue. A defensive stand inside their own 10-yard-line and Purdue added another field goal to get to with 12 at 28-16.
On Michigan's drive, McCarthy threw an ill-advised pass which was picked off by Purdue at their own 25-yard-line. The third quarter ended a few plays later with Michigan leading 28-16.
Purdue pushed Michigan again - but the defense held, forcing Purdue to send out Fineran for his fourth field goal of the night, bringing the Boilermakers to within 8 at 28-19.
After another three-and-out from the Michigan offense, Johnson intercepted O'Connell for the second time, this time inside the Purdue 20-yard-line. Johnson entered the game with one career interception.
Three plays later, McCarthy connected with Ronnie Bell for his third touchdown pass of the game - tying a career high, which he had also done last week against Ohio State. Michigan then went for two with the ‘swinging gate’ formation - and McCarhy connected with Schoonmaker to make the lead 36-19.
Down three scores, Purdue needed to strike quick - instead they went on a nearly four-minute long drive that ended with the fifth field goal from Fineran, bringing Purdue to within two touchdowns.
Purdue tried the onside kick but Michigan recovered and drove down the field on a 7-play drive stretching three minutes to completely put the game away on a Mullings TD run.
While Purdue could move the ball against Michigan, the red zone defense proved to be the difference.
The win gives Michigan their first 13-0 season ever with at least another game set up in the College Football Playoff.