Report Card: Grading Michigan in a 27-24 win over USC

Grading Michigan football in all facets of a 27-24 win over USC. The U-M offense got enough from the running game and an outstanding first-half defensive performance to overcome the absence of a passing game and pull out a huge victory. The grades:

RELATED: Michigan 27, USC 24: Notes, quotes, and observations on a season saver

Michigan rushing offense: A

USC coach Lincoln Riley lamented the big plays and insisted his defense won 80 to 85 percent of the snaps. That sounds a lot like what Ryan Day said after Donovan Edwards and Co. torched him a few years ago in Columbus. 290 yards is 290 yards, and while only 6 of Kalel Mullings‘ carries went for 4 yards or more (out of 17), it’s going to be tough sledding when you have no passing threat. His two big runs, especially his last one (63 yards), were game changers. The senior averaged 9.4 yards per carry.

Alex Orji was just OK as a runner, adding 43 yards, and only four of Edwards’ runs went for 4 or more yards. One of them was a 41-yard touchdown, but another was a fumble after 6 that nearly cost the Wolverines the game.

Passing offense: D-

What passing offense? Junior Alex Orji completed 7 of 12 passes for 32 yards, and he only threw a couple balls past the line of scrimmage. One was thrown behind tight end Marlin Klein and nearly intercepted. The long was 10 yards, to Klein, on a rollout shorty, and Orji never saw an uncovered Semaj Morgan on a third-down pass play. 

There were no interceptions, which is great. At the same time, they rarely allowed Orji to put the ball in harm’s way.

Michigan rushing defense: B

Terrible tackling led to one huge 65-yard run from Woody Marks. Other than that, the USC run game was held in check, especially in the first half. The Trojans had minus-16 yards rushing and all but abandoned the run game before adjusting at halftime and picking it up, including 96 yards in the third quarter. For the most part, though, the run-stoppers did their job and closed the gaps. 

Passing defense: B-

USC made some adjustments in pass protection in the second half and started to move the ball much better through the air. Two big plays, a third-and-16, fourth-quarter, 24-yard touchdown pass and an uncovered 16-yard score to Jay Fair in the third were head scratchers and just can’t happen. 

But Miller Moss had to earn everything he got. He took a beating on his way to a 28-for-51, 283-yard, 3-touchdown performance. Junior corner Will Johnson’s 42-yard interception return for a score on a jumped route raises this grade. 

Michigan special teams: B

Kicker Dominic Zvada missed an extra point, his first bad kick of the year, and it was almost costly. Punter Tommy Doman finally got the leg working, averaging 47.9 yards per punt with three inside the 20. They needed a big game from him, and he stepped up. Sophomore Semaj Morgan was a bit careless catching the ball and put one on the turf, but he covered it and still made positive yardage … coverage units were good overall.