Game balls: Denard Robinson, Michigan's defense and the coaches

DENARD ROBINSON (3): The focal point of the Michigan offense had an up-and-down game. Robinson threw three first-half interceptions, but was solid in the second half. He finished with 454 total yards (337 passing, 117 running) two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. Robinson was 7-of-8 passing for 148 yards on third down.

MICHIGAN DEFENSE (3): The defense entered the game allowing opponents just 10.2 points a game. That changed in the first half when Northwestern scored 24 points. The Wolverines adjusted and pitched a shutout in the second half, forced a fumble and an interception and held the Wildcats to 139 second-half yards of offense.

MICHIGAN COACHES (4): Interesting to watch, no? Michigan mixed it up on offense with long throws, a variety of runs and screens and a mix of Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson at quarterback. More importantly, Michigan adjusted in the second half, eliminating turnovers, creating some of its own and took control of the game on both sides of the ball. The Wolverines finished with 529 yards of offense and were 14-of-17 on third-down conversions.

DAN PERSA (2): The Northwestern quarterback finished 32-of-44 passing for 331 yards, but was sacked four times and never found his rhythm in the second half. Persa and Northwestern scored on four of its seven first-half possessions before stalling in the second half.