Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • D8

8D SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 DETROIT FREE PRESS The Blitz U-M On the flip side MSU 38, Miami 17: Another banner day for running back Kenneth Walker III as Spartans cut down the 1D U-M Wolverines 63 NIU Huskies 10 More Wolverines inside Michael grades: It just the offense that was practially perfect vs. NIU. 2D More from Shawn Windsor: U-M has a shot at getting to 7-0 ahead of MSU game. 6D Next up Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, TV TBA Across the country 1 Alabama ................................31 11 Florida ..................................29 9 Ohio State ............................41 Tulsa .........................................20 12 Notre Dame .......................27 Purdue .......................................13 West 15 Virginia Jim Harbaugh ordered up a pass on play of the game Saturday against Northern Illinois.

A mind trick? A Jedi move? A master troll? Of course not. Harbaugh liked his passing game ver- sus the NIU defense. all. Though he also liked the way his team threw the ball during practice last week, especially the deep ball. The pass from Cade McNamara to Daylen Baldwin was completed, by the way.

The play went for 14 yards. The crowd cheered, perhaps a bit surprised. Or simply grateful. That we are here, three weeks into the season, dis- secting the pass game of a team steamrolled its opponents, reminds us of how fragile the Michigan fan base can be. In fairness to the fan base, it also reminds of where Harbaugh and his program have been lately.

Dog pound Michigan running back Hassan Haskins scores a touchdown against Northern Illinois in the half at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. PHOTOS BY JUNFU FREE PRESS The passing was fancy, but overlook reliance on run game, stout defense Let three-dom reign With its win Saturday, Michigan improved to 3-0 for just the third time in coach Jim seven seasons. The seasons: 2016: After non-conference wins over Hawaii, UCF and Colorado, Michigan smashed Penn State, 49-10, in Week 4. The Wolverines won their nine games before losing to Iowa by one point in mid-November and with a 10-3 record. 2017: The Wolverines extended their 3-0 non-conference run with a 28-10 win on the road against Purdue in Week 4, but then had a bye and a 14-10 loss to Michigan State in a virtual monsoon in Ann Arbor.

U-M then won four of its next games before dropping three straight to the year at 8-5. 2021: Michigan storms into Big Ten play with an average win margin of 35.7 points, with the also-undefeated Rutgers coming to Michigan Stadium next week. After that, though, the Wolverines have games against potentially ranked teams in four of their eight: Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State? Jim Harbaugh yells to his players during the second half against Northern Illinois at Michigan Stadium. Shawn Windsor Columnist Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK See WINDSOR, Page 4D.