The Michigan Wolverines had no problem running up the score against Illinois on Saturday, cruising past Lovie Smith and the Illini by a final score of 41-8. Before the rout was on, however, Jim Harbaugh dialed up the most entertaining formation in all of college football and, this time, it worked in the form of a touchdown.
Harbaugh sent in the super I-formation first against Wisconsin, but the package was purely gimmick related and, after a shift, the Wolverines gained five yards. In the second attempt, though, Michigan was able to cross the goal line, as quarterback Wilton Speight connected with All-American tight end Jake Butt for a (wide) open pitch and catch.
The play design was fantastic on this occasion for the Wolverines, and the type of deception that this formation can cause is highly noteworthy. For the most part, it is simply entertainment for the casual fan, but given Harbaugh's mindset in general, there is probably a method to his madness and it is safe to assume that we will see this formation again.
Later, Harbaugh made a questionable (read: bad) decision in trying to run up the score, but this one was beautiful and the internet rejoiced in unison.
