UTEP coach Scotty Walden didn’t need long to size up Michigan’s defense. A week after the Wolverines bottled up John Mateer and Oklahoma, Walden came away convinced the unit in Ann Arbor is the kind that can wreck a game from the first snap.
“[The Michigan defense] is special. They're the real deal,” he said.
“And I say that because at every level of their defense, they've got a guy. They've got Dom Nichols on that defensive line.
Hey, you've got Troy Bowles at Mike linebacker. To me, their secondary is as good as anybody's with Jyaire Hill and Chris Bracy.
Bracy's trying to put someone in the hospital every single play. Hill is maybe the best corner I've seen man-to-man, in my time coaching.
And they play with their hair on fire.”
Walden has a personal connection to Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill, dating back to their days as FCS coaches - Walden at Austin Peay and Hill at Weber State. That familiarity only deepened his respect for what the Wolverines are doing on defense.
“He and I have connected through a mutual friend over the years and picked each other's brains as head coaches a few years ago, and I have a ton of respect for him and what he does,” Walden said. “He's a heck of a coach, and he's got those guys playing at an extremely high level. They're long, and they're athletic; the difference to me between them and OU is I see a little more twitch in this defense.”
After watching Michigan closely, Walden even walked back what he said earlier about Oklahoma having the best defense UTEP will face this season.
“I kind of misspoke Week 1,” he said. “Heck, I thought that might be the best defense we'd see all year. ... Michigan is just as good, if not better, than Oklahoma.”
For UTEP, the challenge Saturday in Ann Arbor is a steep one. The Miners return no starters from last season’s offense, have just two winning seasons in the past 20 years, finished 2-10 and last in Conference USA a year ago, and are 0-4 all-time against Big Ten opponents. They also opened the 2026 season with a 51-0 loss to Oklahoma and are set to collect a $1.9 million check for this weekend’s trip to Michigan.
Walden said the Miners are looking to “redeem” that Week 1 performance, when special teams miscues helped bury them early. UTEP fell behind 21-0 by the end of the first quarter, and Oklahoma scored on each of its first eight possessions. The Sooners also got a punt return touchdown and benefited from a missed field goal in those opening 15 minutes, turning the game into a blowout quickly.
Michigan’s offense hasn’t been as sharp as its defense through the first stretch of the season, but Walden still sees plenty to worry about in Jason Beck’s group. He pointed to the scheme as much as the personnel.
“What they do is extremely hard to defend, not only because of how good their personnel is, but their scheme,” Walden said. “Their shifting, motion and trading, plus-one quarterback runs, we all know how good Underwood is.
He's 6-foot-4, 220-plus pounds, can sling it. He's a true dual-threat and he can absolutely make you pay in the run game.”
Walden said UTEP can take something from Western Michigan’s approach against the Wolverines. That game featured no turnovers and half the penalty yards of Michigan, and he said the Miners will need that same kind of start and edge.
“Answering the bell from the get-go with our hair on fire,” he said. “The environment is going to be the loudest, most intense environment a lot of these guys have played in. We've got to answer the bell that we belong early in the game.”
In Other News...
Michigan Fans May Need To Rethink Pregame Plans For UTEP
Michigan fans headed to Saturdays game against UTEP may want to keep one eye on the forecast and another on Michigan Athletics social feeds. University and public safety officials are monitoring weather conditions that could affect the normal pregame routine, including when gates open and how easily fans can get into parking areas around the stadium.
With the No. 19 Wolverines already 2-0, the on-field focus remains on staying sharp in a nonconference tuneup. But for everyone planning to make a day of it, the bigger question is whether the usual arrival plan will hold up, and the school is urging fans to stay put in safe locations if openings are delayed and to keep checking official updates before heading over. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Is Giving Michigan Fans Real Hope And One Big Debate
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The bigger question now is how much of that promise can hold up when the spotlight stays on and the schedule gets less forgiving. Analyst Josh Pate said the Oklahoma win still left him unsure about Michigans consistency, which is the kind of follow-up debate a good September victory always seems to create. For the Wolverines, the appeal is obvious: Underwood looks like the kind of quarterback who can elevate everything around him, but the real test is whether the team can keep matching that standard week after week. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Building Real Momentum For An In-State Five-Star Flip
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Position coach Micah Simon has remained in regular contact with Guerrant as Michigan works to keep its foot on the gas. For now, the receiver is still locked in on his high school season, but the Wolverines clearly have built enough traction to make this one worth watching as the next stretch of recruiting develops. [Read more 🡒]