Michigan Beat Rutgers 28-21 as Tommy Carr Accounted for Three Touchdowns

Michigan beat Rutgers 28-21 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in a game the Wolverines nearly let slip away. Freshman quarterback Tommy Carr made his second career start and accounted for three touchdowns, two of them on the ground in the second half, as Michigan improved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. Rutgers fell to 2-6 and 1-4 in the conference in front of 39,540 fans.

Carr carries the offense

Carr completed 22 of 27 passes for a career high 266 yards and one touchdown, and he ran 12 times for 54 yards and two scores. He finished with 320 total yards. Michigan put up 427 total yards, its third highest total of the season, according to the University of Michigan athletics department. Carr had battled the flu during the week, the Detroit Free Press reported, and he still connected with nine different receivers. Running back Savion Hiter added 76 yards on 20 carries.

Michigan scored on its first drive, a 10 play, 92 yard march that ended with Carr throwing a 6 yard touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan. Jordan Marshall made it 14-3 with a 2 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Rutgers answered when backup quarterback AJ Surace found Jourdin Houston open for an 80 yard touchdown, the longest pass play Michigan has allowed this season. Dane Pizzaro kicked a 32 yard field goal late in the half, and Michigan led 14-13 at the break. Surace completed only three passes all game, all in the first half, but Rutgers stayed close on big plays and on the ground, where Antwan Raymond ran for 85 yards.

A disputed call, then a tie game

Michigan stretched the lead to 21-13 in the third quarter when Carr scrambled for a 15 yard touchdown. The game turned odd in the fourth quarter. Michigan punted, Rutgers returner Quentin Redding bobbled the ball, and Michigan player Logan Forbes fell on it for what looked like a game sealing turnover. Officials instead flagged Michigan for kick catch interference, a call that drew loud complaints from Michigan fans on social media, because replays showed Redding was not touched before he bobbled the ball. Rutgers kept possession and tied the game at 21-21 with 11:43 left on a 1 yard touchdown run by Clay Thevenin and a two point conversion pass from Surace to Ben Black III. A 54 yard run by Raymond to the Michigan 3 yard line set up the score.

Carr answers

Michigan responded with an 11 play, 75 yard drive that used 7 minutes and 19 seconds. Carr converted third downs through the drive and finished it himself, running 9 yards for the go ahead touchdown with 4:24 left. Michigan finished 12 of 16 on third down, its best mark of the season, the Detroit Free Press reported. Rutgers punted with about three minutes left and never got the ball back. Carr converted a final third and 1 on a quarterback sneak, and Michigan ran out the clock in victory formation.

Michigan had lost three of its previous four games, and the win keeps the Wolverines on track for bowl eligibility. Michigan hosts Michigan State on Saturday, November 7. Rutgers plays at Wisconsin the same day.