“Michigan really saved the season,” Finebaum said. “That was a defining moment for Sherrone Moore after we wrote them off. And my biggest takeaway has nothing to do with those two schools. It had everything to do with Texas went in there a few weeks ago and beaten them so badly which makes me even more impressed with Texas.”

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.

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.

However, the Michigan football coaches did just that. Sherrone Moore installed Alex Orji as the starting quarterback, deciding that running (and protecting) the football was much more important than having someone who could make throws downfield — which occasionally ended up in the hands of someone wearing the wrong uniform.

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.