ANN ARBOR, Mich. _ The first two weeks of Michigan's season were a walkover.
If they wanted to be tested heading into the Big Ten season next week, they got enough on Saturday.
The No. 5 Wolverines ended up pulling away for the 45-28 win over Colorado at Michigan Stadium but after not trailing all year, trailed three different times in the game.
Michigan (3-0) didn't get its first lead greater than seven points until three minutes remained in the third quarter at 10 points.
And with 11:27 to play in the game, Jabrill Peppers put the game to bed, returning a punt 54 yards for a touchdown.
Digging a 21-7 hole after the first quarter, without an offensive touchdown, they had to regroup on both sides of the ball.
The much-praised defense had been burned for 195 yards and two offensive touchdowns in the first quarter. After that, they buckled down, not allowing a drive longer than five plays and only one touchdown in the final three quarters, that on a 70-yard bomb to speedy receiver Shay Fields.
The shutdown defense was there when it mattered all day, pitching a third-down shutout as Colorado was 0-for-12 entering the final minutes when the game was essentially over.
They even knocked out Colorado's (2-1) biggest threat, quarterback Sefo Liufau, who left in the second half with a leg injury.
By that point, U-M had at least a bit more faith in its offense.
But this was not the pinpoint day quarterback Wilton Speight showed the first two weeks.
He had at least four passes nearly intercepted _ but none were actually picked _ and finished 16-of-30 for 229 yards and one passing touchdown, on an impressive 45-yard catch and run by Amara Darboh.
Most of his success came targeting tight end Jake Butt.
Early in the game when U-M had nothing going, Speight found Butt for a 13-yard gain. Though that drive fizzled, he went back to Butt with the short field two drives later, setting up Michigan's first offensive touchdown, on a Jehu Chesson 17-yard run with 8:49 left in the second quarter.
Speight never found his rhythm, but took fewer chances as the game progressed.
The running game showed more life than last week and had a signature play that the offensive line can revel in.
Tailback De'Veon Smith, not known for long runs, had so much open turf on a third-quarter run that he cruised in for the 42-yard score.
The first quarter was a game's worth of action and more than Michigan had in either of the first two games. The Wolverines opened at least four-touchdown leads in each of the first two games before the opponent even sniffed points.
So getting down 14-0 in just over four minutes was stunning.
After Michigan flamed out on its first drive and Kenny Allen had a 36-yard punt, Colorado brought its prolific offense on the field already at U-M's 49-yard line.
Three plays later, Liufau saw a post opening over the middle and hit Devin Ross for the 37-yard touchdown. Michigan Stadium was stunned. Until the next series, when Speight was slammed on third-and-7, losing the ball, which was picked up and run in to the end zone by Colorado defensive lineman Derek McCartney.
On the day his grandfather Bill got a nice ovation as a former U-M assistant out for the coin toss, it was a moment for the family as well.
Not that the massive Big House crowd cared a lick, trailing 14-0 and concerned it could get out of hand.
While the Wolverines got their own big play with a blocked punt for a touchdown, Colorado's offense looked like it was unstoppable, opening a 21-7 lead by the end of the quarter.
It was a quarter the Wolverines prayed would finally end.
Once it did, Michigan found its footing and began the charge back, keyed mostly on defense.
For 15 minutes, though, the high hopes for the season appeared in jeopardy.
