This ‘penalty from Mars’ on Karan Higdon against NW has us shaking our heads

A thrilling come from behind 20-17 win for the Wolverines is helping fans wake up today feeling better. This team didn’t give up after going down 17-0 in the first half on the road.

The team stepped up on both sides and did their part to get the job done. It was a gut check and the Wolverines move on with a 4-1 record.

But there are still some questions to be answered, and I am refraining from judgment until the Wisconsin game.

Oh the penalties!

What Michigan has consistently struggled with in their first five games of the season is penalties.

@ Notre Dame — seven penalties for 52 yards

Western Michigan — seven penalties for 55 yards

SMU — 13 penalties for 137 yards

Nebraska — eight penalties for 77 yards

@ Northwestern — 11 penalties for 100 yards

Total: 46 penalties for 421 yards

One very questionable holding penalty I’ve watched several times since the game was on Karan’s Higdon in the forth quarter. It happened with just over 13 minutes left during the game-winning drive when Shea Patterson held onto the ball and took it for a solid run.

Jim Harbaugh also mentioned after the game Michigan athletic director Warde Manual said he’ll handle it, meaning he’ll likely contact the Big Ten office. Even the announcers on Fox were confused saying, “That has to be a mistake” and, “That was penalty from Mars.”

Patterson had a chance for a long run, but it was brought back because of the call. He and Harbaugh were asked about it after the game. Listen to their comments below.

This was thankfully not a call that decided the game.

This was not the worst call for Michigan in the last few years I’ve seen, that would have been at Ohio State in 2016. I think you know what play I’m talking about.

Follow on Twitter: @DavidRNoe/@MaizenBrew