Michigan routs Purdue in midst of NCAA sign-stealing investigation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Blake Corum matched his season high with three touchdowns and Semaj Morgan ran for a 44-yard score, leading No. 2 Michigan to a 41-13 victory over Purdue on Saturday night.
The Wolverines (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) routed another overmatched opponent, as they have each game this season, amid an NCAA investigation into allegations that they broke rules with a sign-stealing scheme.
“All that outside noise is just noise,” said Michigan’s Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was 24 of 37 for a season-high 335 yards.
Purdue coach Ryan Walters said two days before the game that he knew “for a fact” that Michigan was at number of his team's games, forcing his players to learn a new language.
The Boilermakers (2-7, 1-5) used a staffer and backup quarterbacks to signal plays from the sideline as they have appeared to do all season.
Roman Wilson had career highs with nine receptions and 143 yards receiving for the Wolverines, who scored five times on the ground. Corum had 2- and 3-yard touchdown runs on the first two drives and had another 3-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter.
Michigan has won a school-record 21 straight Big Ten games and 24 in a row during the regular season.
Purdue quarterback Hudson Card was 12 of 28 for 144 yards with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Deion Burks with 18 seconds left.
The Boilermakers have lost four straight, falling out of potential contention for a bowl bid as the defending West Division champion their first-year coach.
IT WAS WRITTEN
University of Michigan President Santa Ono sent an email to Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, imploring the conference to wait for results of the NCAA’s investigation before potentially taking action against the Jim Harbaugh -led football program.
“I’m not allowed to talk about it," Harbaugh said.
TROLLING MASCOT
Purdue Pete, the school's mascot, was seen on the sideline wearing an Ohio State robe with a contraption that looked like a camera.
Connor Stalions, the low-level Michigan football staffer at the center of the probe into impermissible scouting and sign stealing, resigned Friday.
THE TAKEAWAY
Purdue: The offensively challenged team had another rough day. After the Boilermakers were shut out in the first half of its last two games, they made two field goals in the second quarter and didn't score again until the final minute when the game was out of reach.
Michigan: The embattled team seems to be unaffected by the sign-sealing scandal looming over the program. In fact, it might keep them even more focused on what it can control on the field. The Wolverines are the only FBS unbeaten team to win their first nine games by 20-plus points
UP NEXT
Purdue: Hosts Minnesota on Saturday.
Michigan: Plays a ranked team for the first time this season, facing No. 9 Penn State on the road Saturday.
“Super excited for the opportunity,” McCarthy said. “They’re a super talented team and they’re well coached. It’s going to be a good one for us to see where we’re all at. It’s going to be a fun one next Saturday.”
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