Michigan remain undefeated this season after beating Wisconsin 14-7 in their top 10 throwdown at the Big House, despite missing three field goals.
A Jourdan Lewis deep into the fourth quarter iced the game for the Wolverines, who move to 5-0 on the season and look set to lock horns with the Ohio State Buckeyes for the Big10 title.
Wisconisin meanwhile are now 4-1 after suffering defeat in Ann Arbor, and will have to lick their wounds despite putting in another strong defensive showing led by T.J. Watt.
Wolverine kicking issues keep Wisconsin in touch
In a matchup involving two of the top defenses in the country, it was no surprise that the game remained scoreless through the first quarter.
Both teams attempted to establish the run, but had little success against strong defensive fronts, as the 111,846 fans in attendance enjoyed a punt-off in the first 15 minutes of play.
It was Michigan who started to move the ball toward the end of the first, and with the opening play of the second quarter they moved ahead into a 7-0 lead. An 11-play 77 yard drive, which included a mix of runs and passes, was finished off by goalline back Khalid Hill who barrelled his way over from a yard out.
With the Badgers continuing n their struggles to move the ball, Michigan gave themselves two more chances to add to their lead before the break through place-kicker Kenny Allen. Unfortunately for Allen, two bad misses failed to make Wisconsin pay and despite an Alex Hornibrook turnover late in the half, the lead remained at just seven at the half.
Darboh grabs game-winner after Badgers level it up
Unlike their hosts, Wisconsin made the most of their turnover opportunity, and tied the game at seven midway through the third quarter.
After a bobbled interception which landed in the hands of Derrick Tindal was returned to the Michigan 31', Wisconsin got on the board three plays later when Dare Ogunbowale crossed into the endzone from 17 yards out on a wheel route thrown perfectly by Hornibrook.
Quarterback Wilton Speight attempted to hit back instantly for the Wolverines, and after a drive came up short in Wisconsin territory, replacement kicker Ryan Tice added to the home team's woes with another bad field gold miss from 40 yards out.
The offence put the game on their own back, and with eight minutes left in the game, Speight unloaded a bomb down toward the left touchline with Amara Darboh beating his man to the ball for a 46-yard go-ahead touchdown.
The pressure was then unloaded onto Badger QB Hornibrook and he wasn't up to the challenge. Ending the game with just 88 passing yards, and nine completions from 25 attempts, Michigan were never really in trouble once they had gone 14-7 ahead.
Jourdan Lewis' one-handed circus interception was the final play for the Wisconsin offence, handing Hornibrook his third pick of the day and his first defeat after leading a win over Michigan State last weekend in his debut.
Jim Harbaugh's undefeated Michigan side move on to play Rutgers next weekend, while Wisconsin get a week's rest before playing the other big team in the conference, Ohio State in Madison.