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For the second straight week, No. 2 Michigan cruised past an overmatched opponent by using relentless defense. The Wolverines had no problems against UNLV in a 35-7 victory, the second straight without coach Jim Harbaugh as he serves a three-game, self-imposed suspension to start the year. The Runnin' Rebels managed just 229 yards on the afternoon, averaging a paltry 4.0 yards per play and converting just three of 12 third-down opportunities against the stifling Michigan defense.
Michigan's offense was just as effective. Running back Blake Corum continues to make great strides in a return from a season-ending knee injury a year ago. Corum rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries as the Michigan offense pounded the Runnin' Rebels into submission. Corum's first score of the day was a 3-yard plunge from just outside pay dirt, and his second was a 2-yard score on the team's second drive of the game.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy got into the scoring mix later in the second quarter when he found Roman Wilson for a 13-yard score with under one minute to play in the half. The two connected again on a 47-yarder with 10:31 to play in the third frame to make it a four-score game. McCarthy finished the afternoon 22 of 25 passing for 278 yards and a pair of scores.
Harbaugh was absent for the second straight week due to a school-imposed three-game suspension stemming from an NCAA investigation into improper activity during the COVID-19 dead period. Special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh served as Michigan's coach during the first half of Saturday's game; running backs coach Mike Hart was at the helm for the final 30 minutes.
Michigan (2-0) will host Bowling Green next weekend. UNLV (1-1) will host Vanderbilt at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
