Recap: Three second-half INTs propel Michigan past Rutgers

Michigan trailed at the half, but you wouldn't know that by looking at the final score. Michigan capitalized on three second half interceptions to blow out Rutgers, 52-17.

Rutgers returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter, and freshman QB Gavin Wimsatt looked poised in the first half as it led Michigan 17-14 at the half. But the second half was an entirely different story.

Wimsatt threw three picks and Michigan just ran away with it. It is now 9-0 and will likely be ranked in the top four of next week's CFP rankings thanks to losses from both Tennessee and Clemson.

More: Michigan wakes up in second half, crushes Rutgers to reach 9-0

FINAL: Michigan 52, Rutgers 17

Gash scores first career TD

-Q4 3:23: Isaiah Gash runs it in from a few yards out for his first career TD. 52-17.

-Q4 7:34: This game has become a three-and-out fest. Seriously. Watch something else.

-Q4 8:32: Now Michigan goes three-and-out. Game six of the World Series is on. Watch that instead.

-Q4 9:20: Rutgers goes three-and-out again.

Michigan adds a field goal

-Q4 11:18: Moody makes his first field goal of the night to make it 45-17. Again, running clock.

-Q4 14:42: Rutgers goes three-and-out. I say we go to a running clock.

End of third quarter: Michigan leads 42-17

Michigan takes full control

-Q3 0:23: McCarthy to Cornelius Johnson for the touchdown. It's 42-17.

Michigan gets third INT of the half

-Q3 1:27: Wimsatt throws his third INT of the half, this time it's Will Johnson that comes up with it.

-Q3 2:28: Michigan goes three-and-out.

-Q3 3:23: Wimsatt is sacked on third down and Rutgers has to punt it away.

Michael Barrett pick-six

-Q3 6:42: Another INT, and it's Barrett again. He takes it to the house this time. What a turn of events. 35-17.

Michigan capitalizes on the turnover

-Q3 6:53: Corum punches it in a couple plays later. Michigan scores two touchdowns in 1:31 as it now leads 28-17.

Michigan gets a big INT

-Q3 7:40: Michael Barrett picks off Gavin Wimsatt for a huge turnover.

Michigan retakes the lead

-Q3 8:24: J.J. McCarthy hits Donovan Edwards in the back of the end zone to get Michigan back on top. 21-17.

-Q3 12:17: Michigan's defense gets off the field after a holding penalty wipes away a 3rd down conversion for Rutgers.

Second half underway

Rutgers gets the ball to start the second half.

Halftime: Rutgers 17, Michigan 14

Moody misses another 50-yarder. Rutgers leads 17-14 at the half.

Rutgers takes its first lead

-Q2 1:44: Rutgers takes the lead. Gavin Wimsatt to Sean Ryan in the end zone. They're up 17-14

-Q2 4:42: Jake Moody with a rare missed field goal. Rutgers takes over.

-Q2 10:06: Rutgers goes three and out again.

-Q2 11:38: Michigan's drive stalls as McCarthy's pass is batted down on third down. This time, they get the punt off.

Rutgers adds a FG

-Q2 13:33: Rutgers gets its first offensive points tonight—a 32-yard FG to make it 14-10.

End of 1st quarter: Michigan leads Rutgers 14-7

Michigan punches it in

-Q1 1:46: Michigan responds. Set up by a 43-yard run by Blake Corum, it took four tries at the goal line again, but McCarthy scores on a QB sneak. 14-7

Rutgers ties it up with a special teams TD

-Q1 5:04: Michigan gets one first down, then the drive stalls. Then the punt is blocked by Rutgers and returned for a touchdown. That was an unexpected turn. We're tied at 7.

-Q1 8:03: Rutgers goes three-and-out on its first possession.

Michigan strikes first

-Q1 8:47: Michigan scores twice in its first possession. Only difference is the second one wasn't wiped away by a penalty. It took four tries from the one-yard line, but Corum runs it in for his 15th TD of the season. 7-0

Kickoff

Rutgers wins the toss and defers until the second half. Michigan's offense up first.

Injury designations

WR Roman Wilson, OLs Ryan Hayes and Trente Jones, DBs Makari Paige and Ja'Den McBurrows, and LB Jaylen Harrell all did not travel with the team this week.

Pregame

After a big win against its in-state rival, Michigan hits the road to take on Rutgers. It will be the team's second straight primetime game and third this season.

On paper, this should be another easy win. Rutgers is Rutgers, after all. Some people were high on the Scarlet Knights this season, but at 4-4 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play, that hasn't exactly come to fruition.

Michigan was ranked No. 5 in this season's first College Football Playoff rankings, just missing out on the top four. All it can do to in an attempt to move up in the rankings is continue to win games.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel.

Michigan at Rutgers

▶ Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

▶ TV/radio: BTN/950 AM

▶ Records: Michigan 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten); Rutgers 4-4 (1-4 Big Ten)

▶ Line: Michigan by 25½