When Michigan‘s team plane touched down Friday afternoon, coaches and players learned that the Big Ten had suspended coach Jim Harbaugh for the final three regular-season games, beginning with Saturday’s showdown against No. 10 Penn State.
“Terrific timing,” remarked offensive lineman Trevor Keegan, employing sarcasm to express his sentiments.
Despite the eleventh-hour discipline handed to Harbaugh in the sign-stealing scandal, the third-ranked Wolverines proved resilient, overpowering Penn State 24-15 to maintain an unblemished 10-0 record for the season. In an unconventional move, Michigan refrained from completing a pass in the second half, with their sole attempt resulting in a pass interference penalty on Penn State. Instead, they relied on a dominant ground game, amassing 227 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns against the nation’s top-ranked rushing defense. The Wolverines achieved a rare feat by becoming the first Big Ten team not to attempt a pass in a half since 2013 (Ohio State against Florida A&M) and the first non-service academy to do so since Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern in 2018.
Despite Harbaugh’s absence on the sidelines, Michigan effectively flustered Penn State throughout the game, culminating in a celebratory atmosphere afterward. The sounds of “Go Blue!” resonated through Beaver Stadium as Penn State fans departed, and Michigan’s acting head coach, Sherrone Moore, with tears streaming down his face, enthusiastically pumped his fist towards Wolverines fans surrounding the team’s tunnel. coaches and players learned
“We know that there’s a target on our back right now, and we love that s—,” expressed offensive lineman Trevor Keegan. “As players and staff, having a one-track mind and staying together. The storm’s coming. We are the storm. That’s our mentality.”
After the victory, Michigan players celebrated with Harbaugh. Running back Donovan Edwards called him on FaceTime, and the team carried out its traditional singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”
“He was the jolly good fellow,” added quarterback J.J. McCarthy, referring to Harbaugh.
Earlier in the week, Harbaugh had informed Sherrone Moore to be ready to serve as acting head coach. The moment became a reality less than two hours before kickoff when Michigan learned there wouldn’t be an immediate ruling on its motion for a temporary restraining order to block the Big Ten’s suspension. Moore, who coaches Michigan’s offensive line, took on the additional responsibility of calling the team’s offensive plays, displaying bursts of emotion during the game and shedding tears afterward.
While Moore described himself as “a pretty calm guy,” he acknowledged that emotions had “built up” during the past 24 hours. Reflecting on the win, he emphasized its significance, stating, “For us to come in this environment and win was huge. Then I just think about [Harbaugh], love that man with all my heart. He’s just such a great person, great human, great coach. I just want to do it for him.”