Dominic Zvada hit a 31-yard field goal on the final play to give No. 18 Michigan a 24-22 victory over Northwestern in a Big Ten matchup Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Michigan (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) overcame five turnovers to win its fourth consecutive game to remain in the College Football Playoff picture.
Northwestern (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) has lost three consecutive games after a four-game winning streak. Preston Stone completed 13 of 27 passes for 184 yards and also rushed for a score.
Michigan outgained Northwestern 496 to 245, but Bryce Underwood was intercepted twice and the Wolverines lost three fumbles. Underwood completed 21 of 32 passes for 280 yards.
Jordan Marshall rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and Andrew Marsh had 12 receptions for 189 yards for the Wolverines.
Northwestern, which trailed 21-9 entering the fourth quarter, took its first lead after Braden Turner picked off a Underwood pass and returned it 29 yards to the Michigan 6-yard line. Caleb Komolafe went off the right side for the score on the next play to put the Wildcats up 22-21 with 12:07 left.
Northwestern had cut the lead to 21-16 with 13 minutes remaining on Stone’s 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Michigan got the ball back at its own 37 after a punt with 2:10 remaining. Underwood kept the drive alive with a 21-yard pass to Marsh on third-and-10 to the Northwestern 42. The Wolverines drove to the 13-yard line before taking a time out with two seconds left to set up the field goal by Zvada, who had missed two earlier attempts.
Michigan scored on its first possession of the second half to go in front 14-6. Marshall burst through the left side for 65 yards to the Northwestern 9-yard line. Underwood skirted right end on the next play and scored untouched.
Northwestern recovered a fumbled punt, converting it into a 35-yard field goal by Jack Olson to cut its deficit to 14-9 with just over six minutes left in the third quarter.
Michigan answered with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by Marshall’s 1-yard plunge for a 21-9 lead entering the final period.
Michigan took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Marshall.
Northwestern had a touchdown pass wiped out by a penalty on the ensuing drive, settling for Olson’s 34-yard field goal. Olson’s 26-yarder pulled Northwestern within 7-6 at the half.
Zvada missed a 34-yard field goal attempt on Michigan’s first possession and a 60-yarder on the final play of the first half.
–Field Level Media
