
Michigan Football: Ranking the Top 5 Plays of the Wolverines Regular Season
The regular season is over for the Michigan football team, and sadness has surely set in among the Wolverines fanbase.
But don't worry, lovers of the Maize and Blue, you can be like Troy Aikman and dwell in the past, reliving the best program's best plays of 2015.
Factors used to create the list were excellence displayed on the play, while impact on the final score also affected the rankings.
Go ahead and put on your homer hat to watch Michigan's best moments of the year. Feel free to add other favorites in the comments section.
5. Amara Darboh Snatches One-Handed Grab vs. BYU
1 of 5Jake Rudock struggled to throw accurate passes on downfield shots during the first half of the season, but Amara Darboh helped the senior quarterback gain a little bit of confidence.
Against BYU, Rudock calmly stood in the pocket and fired a back-shoulder pass to Darboh. The senior wideout reached back across his body and snagged a gorgeous reception.
Darboh's 21-yard grab set up Michigan's first touchdown of the game and highlighted his four-catch, 57-yard, one-touchdown performance.
Most impressively, it wasn't even the Wolverines' best play that day.
4. Jourdan Lewis Pick-Six vs. Northwestern
2 of 5Michigan led Northwestern 21-0 late in the second quarter, and Jourdan Lewis put the exclamation on the homecoming victory in Ann Arbor.
Clayton Thorson dropped back and lofted what seemed to be a well-thrown pass down the left sideline.
However, Lewis forced the ball away from Mike McHugh, sprinted down the sideline and scored a 36-yard touchdown that essentially ended Northwestern's chances for a comeback.
The Wolverines ultimately earned a 38-0 victory.
Lewis' production in 2015 can't be adequately measured in readily available statistics. Rest assured, Lewis surrendered one of the nation's worst quarterback's rating when targeted—which is a great thing.
3. De'Veon Smith Throws BYU Defender
3 of 5De'Veon Smith ended a memorable September with a 125-yard, one-touchdown outing against BYU. And the junior running back made sure Michael Davis wouldn't forget him.
Early in the second quarter, Michigan held a 14-0 advantage. Smith received a handoff on a basic power-run play but displayed anything but regular physicality.
After seemingly warping through the pile, Davis was the only defender in the way of a 60-yard touchdown.
Smith powered through Davis for 25 of the last 35 yards and flat-out threw the defensive back to the ground at the BYU 10.
Michigan recorded its second of three straight shutouts in the 31-0 win and improved to 4-0.
2. Defense Stuffs Minnesota as Time Expires
4 of 5In the next game after the botched punt against Michigan State on one of college football's most insane plays of the season, the Wolverines were on the verge of another last-minute loss.
Neither the replay official nor the Michigan defense would let that happen.
Minnesota appeared to score a 23-yard touchdown, but a review correctly placed the ball inside the one-yard line. Following a time-management debacle, Mitch Leidner attempted a quarterback sneak as time expired.
But it didn't work. The Wolverines pushed back and kept Leidner from crossing the plane. Ryan Glasgow and Joe Bolden received credit for the game-winning tackle.
Michigan stole a 29-26 victory and reclaimed the Little Brown Jug.
1. Jehu Chesson Forces Overtime vs. Indiana
5 of 5Six seconds remained on the clock. Michigan's offense faced a 4th-and-Goal from the Indiana five-yard line. Barring a defensive penalty, this was the Wolverines' last chance.
But as he had done all game, Jehu Chesson made a big play.
Rudock floated a pass to Chesson, who absorbed contact from two defenders, secured the football and helped force overtime after Kenny Allen converted the extra point.
The Wolverines escaped Bloomington with a 48-41 double-overtime triumph and remained in contention for the Big Ten championship.
Rudock threw for a career-best 440 yards and six touchdowns, connecting with Chesson 10 times for 206 yards and four scores.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.





.jpg)



