Northwestern's hopes of clinching a bowl appearance will have to wait another week. In a game that could only be described as classic Big Ten football, No. 18 Michigan used a balanced attack to escape the Wildcats at Wrigley Field, 24-22.

A 12-point comeback in the fourth quarter wasn't enough to bring the Wildcats to victory. Northwestern won the turnover battle, 5-0, but a 31-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada as time expired gave the Wolverines the win.

The 'Cats have now dropped three in a row after starting the season 5-2. David Braun's group returns to The Friendly Confines to face Minnesota next week before closing out the regular season at Illinois, looking to reach the postseason for the second time in three years.

Michigan's freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood, carved up Northwestern's defense the entire afternoon. The nation's No. 1 overall recruit last cycle threw for a career-high 280 yards on 65.6% passing and added a score with his legs. He was aided by a strong run game, as sophomore back Jordan Marshall went for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Wideout Andrew Marsh accounted for most of Underwood's air yardage, going for 189 on 12 grabs.

Preston Stone went 13-for-27 with 184 yards. Tight end Hunter Welcing led the way for the Wildcats with four catches for 81 yards.

The Wolverines compiled nearly 500 yards of total offense. Even though they coughed the ball up five times — including three in the final quarter — Northwestern scored just nine points off the takeaways.

Underwood led the Wolverines down the field on the game's opening drive, completing all five of his passes for 74 yards. Marshall took a third-down handoff 17 yards for a touchdown scamper, but a holding call wiped the score off the board. Zvada missed the ensuing 34-yard field goal and the 'Cats took over.

Michigan's freshman quarterback continued to dice up the Wildcats' defense on his second drive with both his arm and legs. A few plays after scrambling for a pickup of 15, Underwood delivered a dime to Marsh for 32 yards. Marshall punched it in from a yard out to give Michigan the 7-0 lead, early in the second quarter.

A short punt later gave Northwestern its best field position of the half, and the 'Cats almost took advantage. Stone found Eligon for a seven-yard touchdown that would've tied the game, but Eligon's separation came via an illegal pick play. The 15-yard offensive pass interference penalty set the Wildcats back and forced them to settle for a 34-yard Jack Olsen field goal.

Michigan appeared to be threatening before the break until Anto Saka blew up a trick play to force a fumble. The ball popped out of Marsh's hands on a reverse, Braydon Brus scooped it up and the Wildcats took over in enemy territory.

Stone completed a big-time pass to Welcing that got Northwestern down to the five-yard line. However, questionable clock management left time for Michigan when the 'Cats eventually stalled and were held to another Olsen chip shot.

With a minute to work with, Michigan was able to get Zvada a look at a 60-yard field goal, which went just to the right. The Wolverines maintained a 7-6 lead at the half.

Northwestern was unable to capitalize on its opening drive of the third quarter and Michigan made the 'Cats pay. Underwood used his legs to pick up eight on 3rd-and-7, Marshall gashed the Wildcats for 65 yards and Underwood took a QB keeper in for a nine-yard touchdown on three consecutive plays.

The Wildcats nabbed their second takeaway of the game after punting on the following possession. Long snapper Liam Reardon raced downfield and punched the ball out of returner Semaj Morgan's arms, then recovered his own forced fumble. Northwestern once again settled for a field goal to make the score 14-9.

Marshall scored his second touchdown of the day on the ground, but several big throws from Stone — including a seam shot to Welcing — allowed the 'Cats to keep it a one-score game. The Northwestern quarterback pulled his team to a 21-16 deficit with a sneak at the goal line.

The pendulum then flipped. With Underwood dropping back to pass on 3rd-and-7, Braden Turner picked off the rookie QB and returned it to the six-yard line. Caleb Komolafe, quiet for most of the day, gave Northwestern its first advantage of the game — 22-21 — with a score on the next play.

Underwood attempted to lead his team on a long drive to regain the lead, but turned it over again with an interception directly to safety Robert Fitzgerald. The Wildcats couldn't do anything with it, and ended up forcing a fumble on the following drive for Michigan's third turnover of the quarter.

Given one final opportunity to win the game, Marsh brought in a 21-yard, toe-tapping grab on 3rd-and-10. Underwood then used his legs to get the Wolverines into field goal range and Zvada knocked down the 31-yarder for the win.

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