Michigan’s Blake Corum’s sweatshirt highlights defiant message amid Jim Harbaugh suspension
Michigan football player Blake Corum is sending out a defiant message and defending his head coach in the midst of an NCAA investigation.
Michigan football players are rallying together as a team and around their embattled coach Jim Harbaugh in the midst of some troubling waters for the program. Michigan running back Blake Corum sent this message in a Monday press conference, wearing a “Michigan vs. Everybody” sweatshirt ahead of a pivotal game against Ohio State. The Wolverines are under an NCAA investigation for allegedly stealing signs from other schools.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is serving a three-game suspension from the Big Ten conference following an NCAA and conference investigation into the program. Michigan filed a legal challenge to allow Harbaugh to coach, but dropped it last week. Harbaugh will serve out the rest of the suspension, which includes this Saturday’s monster contest between Michigan and Ohio State. Both teams enter the game undefeated at 11-0. The game has major implications in the Big Ten championship race as well as the College Football Playoff.
“A lot of us would run through a wall for [Harbaugh], so it’s definitely been tough, and going into the game without him, this is kind of just like adding fuel to the fire,” Wolverines running back Blake Corum said Monday, per ESPN.
Corum said that the team is not using this situation as a negative, but trying to stay positive and work together in the midst of the strife. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy also echoed those sentiments in the press conference.
Harbaugh already served a self-imposed suspension earlier this season by Michigan, but the Big Ten felt that wasn’t enough. Michigan also parted ways with its linebackers coach and an analyst as the probe continues. Sherrone Moore is acting as head coach for the Wolverines during Harbaugh’s absence, and is 2-0 as coach.
Big Ten Power Rankings: All eyes on Michigan-Ohio State in ‘The Game’
The Iowa Hawkeyes punched their ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game last week, while Saturday’s Michigan-Ohio State matchup will determine their opponent. As the regular season comes to a close, most of the conference landscape has settled into place.
1. Michigan (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten)
Previous: 1. Last Week: W 31-24 vs. Maryland.
Michigan narrowly avoided a slip-up right before “The Game” as Maryland gave the Wolverines a strong test all the way into the fourth quarter. National championship hopes will be on the line Saturday when Michigan’s nation-leading defense faces its toughest opponent of the season.
2. Ohio State (11-0, 8-0)
Previous: 2. LW: W 37-3 vs. Minnesota.
The Buckeyes have essentially been neck-and-neck with Michigan all season as the best team in the conference. Unlike their rivals to the north, though, Ohio State handled its business last week with an easy blowout win. It’ll hit the road this weekend for a top-five clash.
3. Penn State (9-2, 6-2)
Previous: 3. LW: W 27-6 vs. Rutgers.
The Penn State defense did its job in a game where scoring was limited due to an injury suffered by quarterback Drew Allar. Head coach James Franklin indicated that Allar avoided a serious, long-term injury, and his status will be worth monitoring ahead of a trip to Michigan State.
4. Iowa (9-2, 6-2)
Previous: 4. LW: W 15-13 vs. Illinois.
Another low-scoring game went in Iowa’s favor as the Hawkeyes clinched a division title. Iowa has allowed just 7.6 points per game over its last five contests, a worrying sign for an upcoming opponent of Nebraska which has not lit up the scoreboard this season.
5. Northwestern (6-5, 4-4)
Previous: 6. LW: W 23-15 vs. Purdue.
Northwestern came into the season ranked dead-last in the conference as team which had lost 17 of its last 18 games and endured an offseason scandal. Now, the Wildcats are easily the Big Ten’s biggest surprise of the season. Now bowl eligible, they can push for a seventh win at Illinois.
6. Maryland (6-5, 3-5)
Previous: 8. LW: L 31-24 vs. Michigan.
A spirited effort against Michigan showed that Maryland has the quality to challenge the conference’s elite programs — but those matchups are still too difficult for the Terrapins to win. If not for a midseason skid, their bowl outlook could be much better, so a win over Rutgers this week is a must.
7. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5)
Previous: 5. LW: L 27-6 vs. Penn State.
Rutgers’ 6-2 start to the season inspired optimism, but a three-game stretch against the Big Ten’s best teams yielded three defeats and just 7.3 points per game from its offense. A stronger performance against Maryland this week will be needed to avoid entering the postseason on a four-game losing skid.
8. Wisconsin (6-5, 4-4)
Previous: 10. LW: W 24-17 vs. Nebraska.
Head coach Luke Fickell said he wasn’t focused on extending Wisconsin’s streak of consecutive bowl games to 22 seasons, but his Badgers still delivered a vital win to get it done. Now, Wisconsin gets the chance to deny rival Minnesota a trip to a bowl game.
9. Illinois (5-6, 3-5)
Previous: 7. LW: L 15-13 vs. Iowa.
If Illinois’ season ends on Saturday, it’ll have no one to blame but itself. Its two most recent losses to Iowa and Wisconsin included blown fourth-quarter leads, though the Illini have one opportunity left to avoid those defeats stinging even more. They host Northwestern this weekend.
10. Nebraska (5-6, 3-5)
Previous: 9. LW: L 24-17 vs. Wisconsin.
A change at quarterback with Chubba Purdy entering the fray nearly proved successful for Nebraska, though the Huskers fell short in overtime. After a long stretch of wins, Nebraska has suffered three consecutive one-score losses — and is inevitably set for another tight contest against Iowa.
11. Minnesota (5-6, 3-5)
Previous: 11. LW: L 37-3 vs. Ohio State.
A postseason appearance looked like a near-certainty when Minnesota took down Michigan State three weeks ago, but losses to Illinois, Purdue and Ohio State have changed the Gophers’ season outlook. A rivalry game against Wisconsin always produces fireworks — and how many will be from Minnesota’s struggling offense?
12. Michigan State (4-7, 2-6)
Previous: 14. LW: W 24-21 vs. Indiana.
Amidst a difficult season for the Michigan State program, earning another win at least provided another bright spot. Freshman quarterback Katin Houser has now thrown six touchdown passes this season and will face a strong test against Penn State.
13. Purdue (3-8, 2-6)
Previous: 12. LW: L 23-15 vs. Northwestern.
Down to its backup quarterbacks, Purdue looked nothing like the team which hung 49 points on Minnesota a week prior. Its loss to Northwestern will hurt, but ending the season on a high note against Indiana will be imperative for first-year head coach Ryan Walters.
14. Indiana (3-8, 1-7)
Previous: 13. LW: L 24-21 vs. Michigan State.
Another three-point loss for the second week in a row will sting heavily when Indiana looks back on its season. Since his stellar 2020 season with the program, Tom Allen has coached Indiana to a 3-23 record in Big Ten play. Beating Purdue this week would at least secure back-to-back four-win seasons overall.
