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Jim Harbaugh's Michigan Wolverines thump Northwestern

Make it three consecutive shutouts for Jim Harbaugh's Michigan Wolverines, who suddenly look dominant.

Northwestern (No. 13) was the higher ranked team entering a matchup against UM (No. 18), but Saturday's game was put away early by Harbaugh's squad, which rolled to a 38-0 win. Michigan returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, and it was all downhill from there for the previously unbeaten Wildcats.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Michigan game without a Harbaugh meltdown of some kind, and he provided one, even with his team leading 31-0 in the third quarter. He was unhappy with the officials when he delivered this tantrum:

Michigan has won five games in a row since losing its season opener at Utah. The Wolverines have recorded three straight shutouts -- they're the first FBS team in 20 years to achieve the feat. The team has outscored its opponents 97-0 over the past three games.

Improvement was expected when Harbaugh was hired as the Wolverines' head coach in the offseason, but flirting with a top-10 ranking in mid-October? No one had UM reaching those heights this quickly.

Saturday's victory sets the stage for a huge battle against rival (and unbeaten) Michigan State next week at The Big House.

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