As Michigan's most recent shutout wound down Saturday, Northwestern's players had to wonder what was going on. U-M had nearly all of its key players on both sides of the ball still playing in the final minutes of the 38-0 win, despite having led by four touchdowns since halftime.
"I'm not surprised about having the starters stay in until basically the end of the game," said tailback De'Veon Smith — who was one of the exceptions, removed soon after halftime in returning Saturday from an injury. "You always want to put your foot on the throat and make sure they can't get back up.