Michigan
Will Johnson injury update: Michigan DB’s status vs. Spartans
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson is not expected to play in Saturday’s game against Michigan State as he deals with an injury, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Johnson left last week’s game against Illinois with a lower body injury, and Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore described the player as being questionable coming into this week.
“I think right now, if I was a doctor, and I’m not a doctor, I’d put him as questionable,” Moore told reporters about Johnson’s condition this week.
He added: “We’ll see how he rolls this week.”
Michigan’s third-year cornerback has 14 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, three pass breakups, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns this season.
He was a principal contributor to Michigan’s defensive effort during the team’s national championship run last season, with 27 stops, 4 pass defenses, and 4 interceptions.
Michigan comes into this weekend’s game with a 4-3 overall record, on a 2-game losing streak in which the team scored 24 combined points, and sitting at 2-2 in Big Ten play this season.
Amid ongoing quarterback issues, the Wolverines rank 130th among 134 FBS teams in passing production with 128 yards per game, and are 113th nationally with 21.1 points on average.
Johnson’s absence is problematic for a Michigan secondary that has struggled at times this season, and as Michigan State has improved its own passing output in recent weeks.
–
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams
Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks
Ann Arbor — The first time Michigan and Penn State crossed paths this season, the Wolverines survived a last-second scare.
The rematch between teams at opposite ends of the Big Ten standings ended up being no match.
No. 2 Michigan dominated from start to finish and swept the regular-season series with a 110-69 smackdown of undermanned Penn State on Thursday at Crisler Center.
The victory didn’t just extend the Wolverines’ win streak to seven and keep them in a tie for first place in the conference with Illinois at 11-1. It set a new mark for the best 22-game record in program history at 21-1.
Michigan’s 2012-13 national runner-up team and the 2018-19 Sweet 16 squad both started 20-1 before suffering their second loss. Nimari Burnett scored a career-high 31 points to ensure this year’s group avoided a similar fate.
Last month, Michigan had to hold off a late push by Penn State to escape with a two-point road win. It never got anywhere close to that point in Round 2.
The Nittany Lions, who dressed only eight players, were down four rotation pieces in starters Ivan Juric and Eli Rice and reserves Tibor Mirtic and Sasa Ciani. The Wolverines offered little sympathy.
Michigan raced out to a double-digit lead less than five minutes into the contest, led by 32 at halftime and didn’t let up, as Burnett kept firing away to set several personal career-high marks.
Burnett, who tied his season high with 15 points in the first half alone, capped a 7-0 burst with a corner 3-pointer. He topped his previous career best of 21 points with his fifth 3-pointer to make it a 38-point game with 17:09 to go.
Less than two minutes later, Burnett set another career high with his sixth 3-pointer, topping his previous best of five. His seventh deep ball gave Michigan an overwhelming 76-34 advantage at the 14:40 mark.
The Wolverines took their largest lead, 93-47, when Oscar Goodman threw down a thunderous baseline jam and capped an 8-1 spurt with a driving layup with 7:40 remaining. They topped 100 points for the eighth time this season when Will Tschetter canned back-to-back 3-pointers with 2:45 left. From there, they coasted to their seventh win by at least 40 points.
Morez Johnson Jr. had 12 points and eight rebounds, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason scored 12 apiece, and Aday Mara added 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots for Michigan. The Wolverines outrebounded Penn State by a 44-21 margin, scored 22 second-chance points off 11 offensive boards, shot 60.6% from the field and made 15 3-pointers.
Freddie Dilione V scored 19, Josh Reed 15, and star freshman Kayden Mingo, who missed the first meeting due to injury, finished with seven points for Penn State (10-13, 1-11). The Nittany Lions shot 37.1% from the field and finished 2-for-20 from 3-point range.
With Juric, Mirtic and Ciani – all forwards – sidelined, Penn State had to go small and started four guards. Michigan took advantage of the size disparity from the jump. An offensive rebound by Mara led to a 3-pointer by Burnett. Another second-chance opportunity ended with Johnson scoring an and-1 layup.
Mara grabbed Michigan’s third offensive rebound in the first five minutes for an easy putback. Penn State did record a single rebound in the opening six minutes. A 15-0 burst that gave the Wolverines a 15-2 lead with 12:41 left in the first half.
Michigan’s length also gave Penn State problems on the defensive end. The Nittany Lions fired up one deep ball after another and missed nine of their first 10 shots, including two airballed 3-pointers. That led to a seven-minute scoring drought and an even longer field goal drought that Dilione ended with a fast-break layup off a turnover at the 11:56 mark.
That offered a brief reprieve as Penn State hit another stretch with just one made shot in six minutes and Michigan extended the margin with a flurry of dunks. Elliot Cadeau had a dribble drive and dish to Yaxel Lendeborg for a dunk. Lendeborg threw a pass to a cutting Tschetter, who made an extra pass to Burnett for an open dunk. On two other possessions, Burnett blew past his defender on a baseline drive and got to the rim for a two-handed jam. Michigan’s lead swelled to 41-16 with 4:21 left in the half.
By the time the dust settled on Michigan’s most dominant half in quite some time with an offense that was humming and a defense that was stifling, the Wolverines entered the break with a commanding 56-24 cushion.
This is a developing story. Come back soon to detroitnews.com for more on this game.
jhawkins@detroitnews.com
@jamesbhawkins
Black History Month series features South Bend’s Billy “Stix” Nicks
This week’s Black History Month story will tell of the remarkable musical journey of Billy “Stix” Nicks.
This month marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and Michigan is celebrating the occasion.
The month recognizing Black Americans stems from the efforts of pioneering intellectual Carter G. Woodson, who initiated Negro History Week in February 1926, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist recognized the month in a Feb. 2 proclamation, encouraging Michiganders to uplift Black American history during this time.
“African Americans have made significant cultural, historical, and economic contributions to the development of America and the American way of life,” the proclamation stated.
Here’s what to know Black History Month in Michigan.
Is Michigan observing Black History Month?
Yes, Michigan recognizes Black History Month, according to the proclamation by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.
“The state of Michigan also recognizes the strength, endurance, and faith of African American ancestors in their struggle for freedom, and pays tribute to their continuous pursuit of overcoming injustices,” the proclamation stated.
The Michigan House on Feb. 4 also adopted a resolution recognizing Black History Month.
What did President Trump say about Black History Month?
President Donald Trump on Feb. 3 issued a proclamation in the first year of his second term to honor “countless black American heroes.” He wrote that “‘black history’ is not distinct from American history — rather, the history of black Americans is an indispensable chapter in our grand American story.”
When is Black History Month in 2026?
Black History Month is February 2026.
When did Black History Month get started?
The origins of Black History Month lie in Negro History Week, founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a prominent Black American intellectual, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
“Woodson chose February for reasons of tradition and reform. It is commonly said that Woodson selected February to encompass the birthdays of two great Americans who played a prominent role in shaping black history, namely Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays are the 12th and the 14th, respectively,” the association’s website says.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
Michigan
Ex-Michigan school bus driver sues district, claims she was fired after offering candy with religious messages
A former school bus driver is suing Mattawan Consolidated Schools, alleging wrongful termination after offering bags of candy to students, some of which contained “brief Christian messages.”
The federal lawsuit, filed in December 2025, claims that Sarah Robinson was told in April 2025 that she could resign or be fired after she handed out the bags on different holidays, including Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Good Friday. According to the lawsuit, students were not required to take bags, and Robinson offered bags that accommodated other religions or did not include religious messages.
CBS News Detroit contacted the district and Superintendent Randall Fleenor for comment and is waiting to hear back.
According to the lawsuit, the bags were distributed during the 2024-2025 school year. The lawsuit claims that a supervisor told Robinson in November 2024 that she could continue handing them out as long as they were optional. However, the district allegedly reversed that policy a few months later and instructed Robinson not to reference Jesus.
The lawsuit claims that footage from the bus showed Robinson never forced the students to take a candy bag and that some parents thanked her. The lawsuit alleges the district did not review the footage before terminating Robinson.
The lawsuit claims that Robinson offered not to distribute bags if she could keep her job, but was denied by the district. The lawsuit claims that the district listed Robinson’s termination as “misconduct” to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, but it was reversed in an appeal.
The lawsuit also claims that “Other employees distributed holiday items or shared other materials without discipline.”
The lawsuit claims that Robinson was the only employee “disciplined and terminated for religious expression.” The lawsuit also alleges that Robinson was investigated by the district and “treated as if she had committed intentional wrongdoing.”
The lawsuit is demanding back pay from the time Robinson was fired, as well as front pay if her reinstatement is not an option.
Semi-truck driver held on ICE detainer after 4 killed in head-on crash
Timeline: NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappears as sheriff says ‘everybody’s still a suspect’
Fulton County, Georgia to sue after FBI seizes 2020 election records
Final Maine plane crash victim identified as copilot
Ex-con KOs state police K-9 in Detroit street brawl, feds allege
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Video: Investigators Say Doorbell Camera Was Disconnected Before Nancy Guthrie’s Kidnapping
White House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
Council of Europe chief calls for political and financial backing of Ukraine Special Tribunal
Republicans pan Democrats’ demands for ICE reform in DHS funding, with little time to reach deal
LIVE: White House press briefing
-
Indiana4 days ago13-year-old rider dies following incident at northwest Indiana BMX park
-
Massachusetts5 days agoTV star fisherman, crew all presumed dead after boat sinks off Massachusetts coast
-
Tennessee6 days agoUPDATE: Ohio woman charged in shooting death of West TN deputy
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoVikram Prabhu’s Sirai Telugu Dubbed OTT Movie Review and Rating
-
Indiana4 days ago13-year-old boy dies in BMX accident, officials, Steel Wheels BMX says
-
Politics1 week agoVirginia Democrats seek dozens of new tax hikes, including on dog walking and dry cleaning
-
Austin, TX7 days ago
TEA is on board with almost all of Austin ISD’s turnaround plans
-
Politics2 days agoTrump unveils new rendering of sprawling White House ballroom project
