No. 17 Michigan Routs Rutgers, 49-16
LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
ANN ARBOR (AP) — Jake Rudock threw for two touchdowns and a career-high 337 yards and ran for a score and a 2-point conversion to lead No. 16 Michigan to a 49-16 win over Rutgers on Saturday.
The Wolverines (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten, No. 17 CFP) were able to coast to an easy victory after wild finishes in their last two games. They beat Minnesota last week on a goal line stand and botched a punt to lose to Michigan State on the final play the week before.
The Scarlet Knights (3-6, 1-5) have lost three straight, giving up at least 48 points in each of the lopsided setbacks. They have to close the regular season with three straight wins to be eligible for a fifth consecutive bowl and to perhaps help coach Kyle Flood keep his job.
Michigan scored TDs on five straight possessions to take a 35-13 lead late in the first half.
De'Veon Smith, the sixth Wolverine to score, ran for a 4-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and Rudock sprinted into the end zone on a 2-point conversion to put Michigan up 43-16.
Even up 30 points late in the third quarter, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh did not show mercy and was calling for Rudock to throw deep.
Harbaugh had a lot to be happy about, but he was livid about a penalty that negated a 51-yard pass to Butt late in the first half. Michigan was called for unsportsmanlike conduct because of an "intent to deceive," after Butt was uncovered near the sideline far from the formation.
Rudock completed 18 of 25 passes and surpassed the 200-yard mark for the first time since his Michigan debut in the season-opening loss at Utah. The graduate transfer from Iowa had 300-plus yards passing for the fourth time in his career.
Michigan's Jake Butt had four receptions for a career-high 102 yards.
Rudock threw TD passes to Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh in the first half. Rudock, Jabrill Peppers, Drake Johnson and Smith ran for scores.
Jourdan Lewis broke up two passes for the Wolverines, giving him 19 this year to break a single-season record shared by Marlin Jackson and Leon Hall.
Chris Laviano failed to complete a pass until midway through the second quarter for the Scarlet Knights, who had 53 yards of offense at one point despite Robert Martin's 54-yard run. Laviano finished 11 of 26 for 97 yards with an interception.
Rutgers was without standout receiver Leonte Carroo, who has nine receiving TDs, for a second straight week because of an ankle injury. The Scarlet Knights scored their only TD early in the second quarter when Janarion Grant returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score.
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