Michigan defeated Rutgers 28–21 on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Wolverines earned an important Big Ten road win after scoring in all four quarters.
Quarterback Tommy Carr led the way with 266 passing yards and three total touchdowns. He also scored the winning touchdown on a nine-yard run with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Rutgers stayed close throughout the game. However, Michigan’s offense made the key plays when they mattered most.
Michigan vs Rutgers Final Score
Michigan finished the game with a 28–21 victory over Rutgers.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Rutgers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 21 |
Game details:
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Location: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
- Final score: Michigan 28, Rutgers 21
- Michigan record: 5–3 (2–3 Big Ten)
- Rutgers record: 2–6 (1–4 Big Ten)
How Michigan Beat Rutgers
Michigan started the game well and scored the first touchdown. Tommy Carr connected with JJ Buchanan on a six-yard pass to give the Wolverines a 7–0 lead.
Rutgers answered with a 46-yard field goal from Dane Pizzaro. As a result, the Scarlet Knights stayed within four points at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Jordan Marshall scored on a two-yard run. However, Rutgers responded with an 80-yard touchdown pass from AJ Surace to Jourdin Houston. Pizzaro added another field goal, leaving Michigan ahead 14–13 at halftime.
After the break, Michigan took control again. Carr ran for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving the Wolverines a 21–13 lead.
Rutgers did not score in the third quarter. Nevertheless, the Scarlet Knights kept fighting and tied the game at 21–21 in the fourth quarter. Clay Thevenin scored on a one-yard run, and Ben Black III caught the two-point conversion pass from Surace.
Michigan then delivered the biggest play of the afternoon. Carr ran nine yards for a touchdown with 4:24 remaining, putting the Wolverines ahead 28–21.
The Wolverines held on to that lead for the rest of the game and secured the road victory.
Tommy Carr Leads Michigan With Three Touchdowns
Tommy Carr was the key player in Michigan’s win. He completed 22 of 27 passes for 266 yards and one passing touchdown.
More importantly, Carr added two rushing touchdowns. His nine-yard run in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score.
JJ Buchanan also made an impact with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Savion Hiter led Michigan in rushing with 76 yards on 20 carries.
Jordan Marshall added another rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Together, Michigan’s offense produced 427 total yards.
Rutgers’ Key Performers
Although Rutgers lost, the Scarlet Knights had some strong individual performances.
AJ Surace completed three of 12 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown. His longest completion was the 80-yard scoring pass to Jourdin Houston.
Houston finished with one catch for 80 yards and a touchdown. In addition, running back Antwan Raymond rushed for 85 yards on 11 carries, including a 54-yard run.
Clay Thevenin also scored a rushing touchdown. However, Rutgers could not find another score after tying the game in the fourth quarter.
Michigan vs Rutgers Team Stats
Michigan finished with more total yards, first downs and time of possession. The Wolverines also converted more third downs, which helped them control the game.
| Team statistic | Michigan | Rutgers |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 28 | 21 |
| Total yards | 427 | 249 |
| Passing yards | 266 | 123 |
| Rushing yards | 161 | 126 |
| First downs | 23 | 9 |
| Third-down conversions | 12/16 | 3/10 |
| Penalties | 7–90 | 5–35 |
| Time of possession | 39:06 | 20:54 |
| Turnovers lost | 0 | 0 |
Michigan held the ball for more than 39 minutes. In comparison, Rutgers had possession for just under 21 minutes.
Furthermore, the Wolverines converted 12 of 16 third-down attempts. Rutgers managed only three conversions from 10 attempts.
Who Won Michigan vs Rutgers?
Michigan won the game 28–21 against Rutgers on October 31, 2026. The Wolverines secured the victory with a nine-yard touchdown run by Tommy Carr late in the fourth quarter.
What Was the Final Score of Michigan vs Rutgers?
The final score was Michigan 28, Rutgers 21. Michigan scored seven points in each quarter, while Rutgers finished with three points in the first, 10 in the second, none in the third and eight in the fourth.
How Many Touchdowns Did Tommy Carr Score?
Tommy Carr accounted for three touchdowns against Rutgers. He threw one touchdown pass and added two rushing scores, including the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
How Many Passing Yards Did Tommy Carr Have?
Carr recorded 266 passing yards. He completed 22 of 27 attempts and threw one touchdown pass without an interception.
What Was Michigan’s Record After the Win?
Michigan improved to 5–3 overall and 2–3 in Big Ten play after beating Rutgers. Meanwhile, Rutgers fell to 2–6 overall and 1–4 in conference games.
Final Thoughts
Michigan earned a 28–21 road win by making important plays in every quarter. Tommy Carr’s three touchdowns helped the Wolverines stay ahead, while the defense limited Rutgers to 249 total yards.
Although Rutgers managed to tie the game late, Carr’s final touchdown made the difference. In the end, Michigan left Piscataway with a valuable Big Ten victory.
