ANN ARBOR, Mich. – They were still dressed in uniforms and pads, had just lost their first game of the season and faced a six-hour bus ride home.

But after falling 33-17 to No. 4 Michigan, the collective feeling from NIU players in the post-game press conference was far from gloomy.

“The whole game, I thought we were great,” NIU quarterback Phil Horvath said. “We had 411 yards of total offense against the No. 4 team in the country. We thought we were playing great, but they just played better.”

The Wolverines extended their winning streak at “The Big House” to 16 games with the win in front of 110,971 fans – the largest crowd a MAC school has ever played in front of.

Michigan began the day with a 14-play, 74-yard drive that ended in a 4-yard touchdown from Michigan quarterback Chad Henne to Jason Avant. Henne converted four consecutive third downs on the drive.

The Wolverines converted 11-of-17 third downs on the day.

“I remember seeing a lot of third-and-fours and third-and-fives, and they converted those by throwing the football,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “I think every third down there they converted in that first half, and that’s an inexperienced defense. We couldn’t cover good enough. They were just throwing whatever they needed and getting that first down.”

Novak was impressed with the Huskie offense, led by Horvath, who completed 17-of-25 passes for 200 yards, and running back Garrett Wolfe, who ran for 148 yards with a touchdown.

Wolfe’s touchdown was a 76-yard breakaway run early in the second quarter, making the score 14-10, but Michigan retaliated with 19 unanswered points, keeping the Huskies scoreless until the fourth quarter.