'Heroes' help No. 3 Michigan past Illinois to remain unbeaten

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Jake Moody ran onto the field for the final kick of his college career at Michigan Stadium after Michigan found itself down 17-16 against Illinois in the fourth quarter.

Moody had never kicked a game-winning field goal in his career, but he lined up for the 35-yarder from the right and put it through the uprights. Moody had four field goals in the game, but he said the one against Illinois was the best.

Moody was in his last game at the Big House. I'm happy we were able to send out the seniors on a good note.

Moody won the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's best kicker, and made all four of his field goals against Illinois.

Jim Harbaugh said he had a locker room full of heroes after his team won in the final seconds. Only one other top-five College Football Playoff team has overcome a last-minute deficit, and Harbaugh's team did it on the kicker's foot.

Harbaugh highlighted most of his players, but spent nearly three minutes talking about Moody and the performance he put on to keep the No. 3 Michigan's playoff hopes alive.

Harbaugh doesn't know if anyone of us comprehends what he experienced. The guys in the locker room were chanting his name when he arrived. It was a great event.

Harbaugh only focused on the positives and described this season as a happy journey with a team of heroes despite the fact that quarterback J.J McCarthy completed just 53% of his passes.

Harbaugh said that whoever is on the fringe will probably play in the last game against Ohio State. The only update Harbaugh gave was that Corum's X-rays came back negative.

Harbaugh talked about each of the four kicks from Moody and how impressive it was in the cold and windy weather.

Michigan was trailing Penn State by four points in the fourth quarter when they came back to win the game. The tight end caught a pass from McNamara and ran it in for a 47-yard touchdown to give his team the victory.

The team was without its best running back and had to rely on its most consistent player to get the win. Moody noted that he understood what this kick meant for his team and that he wasn't any more nervous than he would be.

He lined up, with the wind at his back, and put three points on the board to send his team to Columbus, Ohio, without a loss.

I'm calling him a legend. Harbaugh said he has been watching Michigan football since he was a child. He is being nominated for legendary status at the school.