TAMPA, Fla.-  Once again, Tyrone Wheatley placed the team before himself If the junior running back played his last game for Michigan on Saturday, he went out in style with two touchdowns and 124 yards in a 42-7 rout of North Carolina State in the Hall of Fame Bowl

In helping the 23rd-ranked Wolverines (8-4) close strong with their fourth straight win, Wheatley scored on runs of 26 and 18 yards. He has until Jan 10 to decide if he'll skip his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.

Earlier, the 226-pound tailback said he hadn't made up his mind. Saturday he didn’t answer questions about his future, preferring to focus on Michigan's strong finish after a 4-4 start.

Wheatley was far from a one man show against N C State as the Wolverines defense forced the Wolfpack (7-5) into six turnovers before a crowd of 52,649 at Tampa Stadium.

Clarence Thompson ran back one of Michigan's four interceptions 43 yards for a third-quarter touchdown (video), while Derrick Alexander returned a punt 79 yards for a second-quarter score (video) and Todd Collins hit Amani Toomer with a 31-yard TD pass. (video)

Michigan outscored its last four opponents, 153-24, including a 28-0 win over Ohio State. North Carolina State was looking to rebound from a 62-3 loss to Florida State in its last game.

Michigan took control after a scoreless first quarter in which NC State had the ball for more than 11 minutes in a light rain.

The Wolfpack got a break on their first possession when a holding penalty wiped out a blocked punt that Michigan’s Ron Buff recovered at the NC State 5-vard line.

The mistake cost the Wolverines a scoring chance but their superior size and strength began to take its toll on the smaller Wolfpack in the second quarter.

Wheatley carried six times for 66 yards on the nine-play, 80-yard drive he finished with his 26-yard run around right end for a 7-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter.

Alexander's punt return made it 14-0 four plays later and Collins tossed his TD pass to Toomer on fourth and 10 as time expired in the half to give Michigan a 21-0 advantage.

NC State moved the ball well at times, but turnovers stopped two drives inside the Michigan 30. The Wolfpack finally scored on Geoff Bender's 12-yard pass to Brian Fitzgerald with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter.

By that time, Michigan had a 35-0 lead on Thompson's interception return and Wheatley 's second TD. Ricky Powers, the Wolverines’ number 3 tailback scored on a 16 yard run to make it 42-7 going into the fourth quarter.

For his contribution Wheatley was named the games most valuable player. He carried 18 times before leaving after his 18 yard TD run midway through the third period.