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On the record
Called Shots →Nathaniel Staehling (No. 44) is one of Michigan's starting linebackers in the September 5 opener against Western Michigan.
True freshman receiver Travis Johnson (No. 13) catches at least 1 pass in the September 5 opener against Western Michigan.
Michigan's 2026 rushing defense, as listed in the NCAA's official FBS team rushing defense table when the season is complete, is lower than 111.9 yards per game.
Michigan finishes the 2026 season ranked inside the top 25 nationally in the NCAA's official FBS team pass efficiency defense table.
Written about him
Michigan completed nothing that travelled more than 11 yards in the air, and won
Michigan beat Penn State 21-18 without completing a pass that travelled more than 11 yards past the line of scrimmage. By the catch spots recorded in Michigan Athletics' official play-by-play, its 10 completions covered 41 yards in the air and 49 after the catch, and the four throws that went 25 yards or more downfield were two Tommy Carr incompletions and both Bryce Underwood interceptions. Across six games, Michigan has completed five passes of 20 or more air yards, all against Western Michigan and Iowa. Penn State's deep passing game was one receiver: the stat crew marked five of Rocco Becht's 44 throws as deep, all five went to Chase Sowell, and three were caught for 76 yards. In the run game, the second half's 14 runs up the middle were Michigan's season habit producing 10.1 yards a carry instead of the 4.0 it had averaged there in the first five games, and the ball moved to Savion Hiter, who carried twice before halftime and nine times after it. PFF's grades, cited as rankings only, had Avery Gach first in run blocking among the five linemen who started at the conventional spots, Manuel Beigel's run-blocking grade highest of any Michigan lineman, Rod Moore Jr. the highest-graded Michigan defender despite leaving in the third quarter, and Jyaire Hill last in coverage among the eight defensive backs who made a tackle. Kyle Whittingham said Monday he will not name the Indiana starter.
Michigan's Winning Drive Against Oklahoma Was Six Yards Long
Michigan beat Oklahoma 17-10 at Michigan Stadium in front of 111,240 people to go 2-0, a week after falling out of the AP Top 25. Oklahoma outgained Michigan 289 yards to 263 and made 17 first downs to 14, and lost because it turned the ball over twice and Michigan did not turn it over at all. The game was tied 10-10 with 11:49 left when Jyaire Hill intercepted John Mateer and returned it 24 yards to the Oklahoma 6; Jordan Marshall scored from a yard out two plays later. Michigan drew 11 penalties for 90 yards after drawing nine for 80 in the opener, and gave away 30 of the 83 yards on the Oklahoma drive that tied the game. Bryce Underwood completed nine of 17 passes for 111 yards, two of four for 15 in the second half, and gained 96 yards on 16 carries that were not sacks. Kyle Whittingham said afterward that Michigan cannot rely on running the ball. Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis hurt his right knee in the first half and did not return.
Michigan Lists Eleven Cornerbacks And Their Position Coach Says He Intends To Start Four Of Them
Michigan's cornerbacks coach said Tuesday that he is probably going to start four cornerbacks, with Shamari Earls the fourth alongside Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry and Smith Snowden. The number came out of the coach's mouth. The names and the word cornerbacks were supplied by the reporter who wrote it up. And Michigan's own biographies say Berry has 16 career starts outside and seven at nickel, while Snowden made 11 starts at nickel for Utah in 2024, so a Michigan defense that starts three corners and a slot defender is already starting four cornerbacks by the roster page's own definition.
Jay Hill Put Three Numbers On Michigan's Defense. Last Season Nobody In College Football Hit Two Of Them.
Michigan's first-year defensive coordinator named a rushing target of 85 yards a game on Thursday and explained where it came from. He is right: four FBS teams of 134 finished under it in 2025, and Michigan was 19th at 111.9. Two further targets reported from the same availability, a pass efficiency mark under 100 and seven combined sacks and takeaways per game, were cleared by one team and by nobody at all. Hill's own BYU defense missed all three.