ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 22 BYU football concluded its September schedule with a 31-0 loss against Michigan at Michigan Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars (2-2) had just 105 total yards compared to 448 by the Wolverines (3-1, 0-0 Big 10). It is the first time BYU has been shut out since a 3-0 loss to Utah in 2003, snapping a streak of 143 games of getting on the board.
BYU freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum completed 12 of 28 passes for 55 yards. Running back Francis Bernard saw his first action as a Cougar, rushing four times for 30 yards. Michigan's Jake Rudock threw 14 of 25 for 194 yards and one touchdown with two rushing scores.
Defensive backs Micah Hanneman and Michael Wadsworth led the defense, each posting 10 tackles each. Defensive lineman Logan Taele added two tackles for loss while Remington Peck and Harvey Langi each posted sacks.
The first quarter of the game saw just one completed pass for the Cougars, a 14-yarder to Devon Blackmon that was tipped by a defender. With 6:52 left in the first quarter, Michigan scored the first points of the game on Rudock's 3-yard rushing touchdown to go up 7-0.
The Wolverine offense scored three touchdowns and kicked one field goal in the second quarter to lead 31-0 at the half, including a 60-yard touchdown run with 11:37 left.
The second half was scoreless for both sides as Michigan used its ground game to run the clock, pacing the game for the eventual final tally.
BYU returns home for four straight games beginning with Connecticut on Friday Oct. 2 at 8:15 MDT. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Cougar IMG Sports Network, KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM and BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.