CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Jim Harbaugh has fielded plenty of questions about Michigan football's offense this season.

Especially recently.

His answers have mostly followed the same message: He believes the Wolverines are trending in the right direction and likes what he has seen thus far.

Harbaugh's response when asked about the offense after Saturday's 42-25 win over Illinois was no different.

"Pleased with the way the offense played," Harbaugh said. "Thought they performed extremely well."

Most of Harbaugh's postgame news conference was centered around the offense, which scored 28 points in the first half.

The Wolverines ended four of their first six drives with touchdowns, moving the ball at will on the ground and piling up 205 first-half rushing yards. Michigan attacked Illinois on the edge, springing running backs Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins (who both rushed for over 100 yards) for several big gains. Quarterback Shea Patterson found several chunk plays through the air, including a 71-yard connection with receiver Ronnie Bell.

Then it all went away.

Michigan followed its fourth touchdown of the game with five consecutive scoreless possessions that included two three-and-outs. The nadir came at the start of the fourth quarter, when running back Tru Wilson lost a fumble — U-M's second turnover of the game — that allowed Illinois to cut the lead to three.

The Wolverines punched back with a 10-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Later, they were given the ball at Illinois' 1 after the defense forced and recovered a fumble, and scored immediately.

It was a tale of two halves. In the first, Michigan ran for 205 yards. In the second, it ran for 92 — a number that was bolstered by 44 rushing yards on the final drive, when the outcome had already been decided.

According to Harbaugh, Illinois' defense adjusted to Michigan's run game by "spiking" the defensive end on a hard slant. That slowed U-M temporarily, before the Wolverines made an adjustment of their own that sprung Patterson loose for a couple key runs and allowed Haskins to find big gains on the edge.

After the game, Harbaugh praised every offensive position group. He said he was confident Patterson could lead the team in a tight spot, and complimented his overall performance. The senior completed 11-of-22 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

"Shea Patterson had a great game," Harbaugh said. "Again, I don’t know what all the statistics and the numbers are, but that was tough throwing the ball today. And came up with the big throws. He’s got a very strong arm, throws a very tight spiral and made some big plays when we needed."

In the wake of last week's 10-3 win over Iowa, Harbaugh said the offense was hitting its stride, and doubled down on those comments during the week.

His tune didn't change Saturday.

“Forty-two points, hard-working 42 points. I think our team was tested a lot. It was a heckuva challenge. Especially going into the wind, it was tough throwing the ball. Our running game really rose to the occasion. I think Shea did a really good job throwing the ball into the wind, against it. Ronnie Bell made the huge catch to and the run after catch.

"There was a lot of big plays, lot of good play. Couple fumbles that wouldn’t have liked to seen. Outside of that, I think our offense was playing pretty darn good.”

Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.