Could Michigan keep up with USC if it couldn’t pass? As the climax of Michigan football’s victory Saturday neared, a nervous crowd found the answer.

Michigan football is on the rise in the Associated Press college football poll. After dropping three consecutive weeks in the rankings, the Wolverines (3-1) climbed six spots in Sunday's updated AP Top 25, to No. 12 after Saturday's 27-24 victory over then-No. 11 USC in Ann Arbor.

It went down to the wire, but Michigan pulled the upset over USC on Saturday. Here are some players who stood out.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football was on its proverbial death bed (OK, not really) but needed a win against No. 11 USC in the worst way. And much to the surprise of the college football landscape, the Wolverines eked out a victory, 27-24, over the Trojans.

The No. 18 ranked Michigan Wolverines ran through the No. 11 Ranked USC Trojans 27-24 to seal an upset victory to open Big Ten play.

No. 18 Michigan inflicted a pair of significant blows in the first half against No. 11 USC on Saturday, taking a 14-3 lead into the break behind stingy defense and explosiveness in its run game. Kalel Mullings busted a 53-yard touchdown run on the Wolverines' third possession to open the scoring after the teams traded early punts.

Here's a look at social media reactions to Michigan defeating USC football, despite having just 32 passing yards from quarterback Alex Orji:

Physicality had been an emphasis in practice over the last week. And so was situational football. After Michigan’s offense struggled to move the chains and generate much offense during the second half of its 27-24 win over No.