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Michigan tight end Devin Funchess reaches out for a catch Saturday against Minnesota at Michigan Stadium. (Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ANN ARBOR -- It wasn't exactly dominating, it wasn't exactly overwhelming.

But it was a win. And Michigan's still unbeaten.

Devin Funchess caught a career-high seven passes for 151 yards and a touchdown Saturday, and Devin Gardner went 13 of 17 through the air for 235 yards and a touchdown as Michigan got off on the right foot in Big Ten play with a 42-13 win over Minnesota at Michigan Stadium to once again keep possession of the Little Brown Jug.

The Wolverines (5-0, 1-0) -- who played without a turnover for the first time since scoring a 58-0 win over Minnesota on Oct. 1, 2011 -- outgained Minnesota 348-281 on the day.

Senior running back Fitz Toussaint finished with 78 yards on 17 carries to go along with two touchdowns.

In a lightning-quick first half that saw Michigan run just 23 plays, the Gophers used a massive 16-play, 75-yard drive to knot things up at 7-7 late in the first quarter. Devin Funchess would snap the tie just before the break, hauling in a 24-yard touchdown grab from Gardner to put the Wolverines up 21-7.

Michigan, mainly by way of the ground game, began to chew Minnesota up in the third quarter -- finishing its first second-half drive with a 2-yard plunge from Derrick Green and the second with a 12-yard run by Fitz Toussaint to make it 28-10 late in the third.

Michigan added a 2-yard scoring run from Gardner and a 72-yard interception return for a score by Blake Coutness -- his fourth interception of the season.

Minnesota was without head coach Jerry Kill, who was sidelined after suffering another seizure on Saturday morning.

The Wolverines will visit Penn State next week.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Devin Funchess was able to slip free down the field and become the vertical passing threat Michigan has sorely missed to this point in the season. Michigan used the 6-foot-5 Funchess at wide receiver a great deal Saturday, and Minnesota had zero answer for him.

• Michigan's new-look offensive line was able to set a tone early in this one, with a six-play scoring drive on its opening possession -- all run plays from Toussaint and Derrick Green -- to start the game off with a touchdown. Physically, the effort was much better early. But it wasn't great. Michigan rushed 35 times for 113 yards.

• Gardner was much more calm Saturday than he's been over the last two games. He never really looked rushed or panicked. He was calm in the pocket, made throws when he had to and made wise decisions with the football. A nice job by Al Borges of making sure Gardner wasn't put in uncomfortable spots, a very balanced outing overall offensively.

• Zero turnovers. How about that? First time since midway through the 2011 season. Yeah, it's been a while.

LOWLIGHTS

• Minnesota's 16-play, 75-yard scoring drive in the first half was a physical beatdown by the Gopher offensive line against the Michigan defensive front. Mitch Leidner and company shoved the ball down the Wolverines' throat, and there wasn't much they could do about it.

• On third down, Michigan did nothing. The Golden Gophers were 8 of 15 on the day. Nowhere near good enough.

• Sophomore defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins was carted off the field in the fourth quarter after suffering a left knee injury.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK: FINAL VERDICT

• Michigan didn't rack up gaudy rushing yards with its new-look offensive line, but it did have a presence and control the line of scrimmage offensively -- a welcome change for the Wolverines, who were physically dominated up front at times against Akron and Connecticut.

So far, the move of Graham Glasgow to center and Chris Bryant to left guard seems to be a wise one.

POSTGAME QUESTION

Michigan wasn't perfect Saturday, but it didn't turn the ball over and it made wise decisions on offense -- were you encouraged by Saturday's performance? If not, why?

Michigan football vs. Minnesota 2013 62 Gallery: Michigan football vs. Minnesota 2013

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