Elite Michigan star makes history as Wolverines clinch bowl berth with victory over Northwestern Wildcats
Despite a mostly disappointing season, the Michigan Wolverines capitalized on their recent recruiting momentum to deliver their biggest victory of the season, cruising to a 50-6 win over the Northwestern Wildcats. This win pushed the Wolverines to 6-5, securing a bowl game berth. In their win, their best offensive player set a new Michigan record. […]
Despite a mostly disappointing season, the Michigan Wolverines capitalized on their recent recruiting momentum to deliver their biggest victory of the season, cruising to a 50-6 win over the Northwestern Wildcats. This win pushed the Wolverines to 6-5, securing a bowl game berth.
In their win, their best offensive player set a new Michigan record. Tight end Colston Loveland set the record for the most catches in a season by any Wolverines’ tight end, finishing the game with 56 receptions.
The record was previously held by Bennie Joppru, who had 53 receptions in 2002. Loveland is also 156 yards away from breaking Jake Butt’s career yardage mark and is 19 away from his career receptions mark.
Despite missing the USC game due to injury, the tight end had amassed 560 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 53 receptions heading into today's game against Northwestern. Loveland finished the game with three receptions for 22 yards and one receiving touchdown.
He has been the best player for Michigan offensively (and maybe even on the whole team) this season, steadily delivering big play after big play, even as the rest of the offense struggled to do much beyond him.
I made the case earlier this season that he was the best tight end in the country, and I haven’t changed that stance. Loveland is a slam-dunk first-round selection in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. He produces repeatedly despite multiple quarterbacks and being the only serious receiving threat on the team for much of the season.
Michigan's concern now has to be Loveland's sudden departure from the game. He caught a touchdown pass at the end of the first half, celebrated, and didn’t return for the rest of the game.
After the game, head coach Sherrone Moore had some vague comments about Loveland’s injury:
“Just working through something, so we’ll see what they say when we go visit the doctors.”
While that isn’t comforting, Moore didn’t sound concerned about it. Loveland didn’t seem impacted by it in the first half of the game.
The Wolverines will need him next week, as they look to pull off the upset over hated rival Ohio State. Michigan travels to Columbus next week to take on the Buckeyes, and they’ll need all hands on deck in that one.
