There are plenty of reasons for Michigan football fans to keep an eye on the bigger picture after two weeks, but the defense hasn’t been one of the concerns.
Through the opening stretch, the Wolverines are giving up just 11 points per game, a mark that ranks 18th in college football. That comes against two opponents that won 10 games a season ago, and Michigan has still kept them to only 255 yards per game.
The numbers on their own tell part of the story. The way Michigan has done it tells the rest.
Western Michigan brought more to the table than it may have looked like on paper. Broc Lowry was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jalen Buckley ran for more than 1,000 yards, and the offensive line had real talent.
Even so, Michigan held the Broncos to 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. Western finished with just 229 yards and would not have reached 10 points without Michigan turnovers helping the cause.
The next week against Oklahoma, the defense looked even sharper. John Matter went 16-of-31, Michigan forced two turnovers, and the Sooners were limited to 289 yards.
The Wolverines got after the quarterback, covered well on the back end, and shut down the run. Oklahoma never really found a reliable answer.
Michigan, meanwhile, moved the ball for 152 rushing yards.
Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt said the whole thing starts with how connected the unit is.
"What makes it work is it's true team defense," Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt said. "The secondary's ability to play man-to-man coverage, but also play zone, is a great luxury.
They can play any coverage. That means quarterbacks hold onto the ball a little longer because the picture is changing.
The issue is when you hold onto the ball, the hungry dogs are hunting (D-line). Michigan's defensive line is playing with a hunger and a tenacity; it was truly bully ball.
"They're gonna take your lunch money, and they don't care about after-school detention."
That mentality gets another chance to show up this week against UTEP. The Miners were shut out by Oklahoma, then bounced back with 51 points against Texas Southern, but Michigan should have the edge in the trenches.
The defensive line looks positioned to control that matchup, and the secondary has been the most impressive part of the team so far. The corners have given enough confidence in man coverage to let Michigan do more, and that kind of flexibility is a luxury. Even the linebackers, a group that was viewed as a possible weakness before the season, have played better than expected.
From there, Butt went even further in his praise, saying Jay Hill looks like the next great Michigan defensive coordinator - and maybe even the next head coach.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans May Need To Rethink Pregame Plans For UTEP
Michigan fans heading into the UTEP game may need a little more flexibility in their usual Saturday routine. Michigan Athletics and public safety officials are keeping an eye on weather conditions that could affect the schedule, including possible delays to gate openings and parking access, with the university directing fans to rely on official athletics channels for the latest updates.
For a No. 19 Michigan team that is 2-0, the on-field focus remains the same, but the pregame experience may look different depending on how the weather develops. If gates do not open on time, fans are being told to stay in safe locations and wait for further guidance, a reminder that the logistics around kickoff can shift quickly even when the game itself is still on track. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has One Big Concern After Another Blowout Win
Michigan kept rolling in a 52-17 win over UTEP to move to 3-0, and the final score reflected how thoroughly the Wolverines took control after shaking off a sluggish start. Early turnovers could have made things interesting, but the offense settled in and the second half turned into another convincing display, with quarterback Bryce Underwood throwing for 223 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters.
Andrew Marsh was a bright spot again, finishing with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, giving Michigan another reliable target as the passing game found a rhythm. The defense also settled in after a few early mistakes, but even in a blowout like this, the game did not fully erase the concern that has lingered around the Wolverines through the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Finally Found Some Offense But A Bigger Worry Is Growing
Michigan finally got the kind of offensive afternoon it had been waiting for, rolling past UTEP 52-17 as Bryce Underwood looked more comfortable as a passer and the unit found more rhythm than it had shown earlier in the season. There was even a milestone for the freshman group, with Tommy Carr tossing his first career touchdown pass, a small but useful sign that Michigan was getting production from more than one spot on the field.
Still, the more immediate concern out of the win may be on the other side of the ledger, where the injury list keeps getting harder to ignore. Right tackle Andrew Sprague, running back Jordan Marshall and cornerback Zeke Berry all missed time or were limited, and for a team trying to build momentum, those absences could matter as much as any box score improvement. Michigan got the offense it needed Saturday, but the health of a few key players is becoming a bigger storyline by the week. [Read more 🡒]