The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546678
34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2026 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE B y the time we play the first game and get three games un- der our belt, I think you'll see every position we're playing at a high level." That was Michigan defensive coordi- nator Jay Hill during a press conference in early August predicting that his sys- tem, which he's said is the most complex scheme in the country, would take some time for the players to pick up and master. It hasn't been perfect through three games, but the Wolverines are playing at or near a championship level on that side of the football, allowing 39 points and only 3 touchdowns in the first three games. Opponents recorded only 3.8 yards per play in that stretch, tied with New Mexico for the seventh-best mark in the FBS. "I think when we're playing at the level that we should be ... there aren't a lot of teams that can compete with us," senior defensive tackle Jonah Lea'ea said after a 52-17 victory over UTEP. Defense wasn't the problem in Mich- igan's 13-12 close call against Western Michigan on Sept. 5, when the Wolver- ines needed a Hail Mary to earn the win. The Wolverines allowed a 20-play field goal drive that was frustrating but also kept the Broncos out of the end zone and held them to low efficiency all night long. "Defensively, we actually played pretty well," head coach Kyle Whittingham said after the close call against the Broncos. "We didn't give up much — 3.3 yards per play and less than three yards per carry." The only thing Whittingham lamented was not forcing any turnovers, but those came the following week in a 17-10 vic- tory over then-No. 11 Oklahoma — and Michigan needed both of them. Junior safety Chris Bracy punched out a football that was recovered by senior linebacker Troy Bowles in the second quarter. In the fourth, senior cornerback Jyaire Hill picked off a pass by quarterback John Mateer (that was tipped by Bowles) on third-and-9 and returned it 24 yards to the 6-yard line, setting up a touchdown DEFENSE ANALYSIS Jay Hill's Unit Has Been Lights Out Linebacker Troy Bowles (18) and defensive tackle Enow Etta (17) are just two of the key contributors to a Michigan defense that shined through the first three games of 2026. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL