Notes: Defense keeps Michigan in game, special teams a big part of problem in loss to Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Michigan outgained Illinois, 322-267, had more first downs (20-18) and forced more negative plays (8-7) … but the Wolverines lost the turnover battle, 3-0, and made key special teams errors in a 21-7 loss.

Graduate safety Makari Paige, who rotated in and out on defense more than in previous games, blocked a 44-yard Illinois field goal at the end of the first half to give Michigan juice, down only 13-7 at the break. But the good of that play didn’t outweigh the negatives in the third phase of the game.

Senior punter Tommy Doman averaged 32.7 yards per punt on 3 attempts. Junior kicker Dominic Zvada saw his 28-yard field goal attempt blocked after what appeared to be a subpar snap from graduate William Wagner and the Fighting Illini executed a fake punt. The snap to upback Tanner Arkin and subsequent run went for 36 yards, making it the longest gain of the day for either team in what was a defensive struggle.

“You look at the defense, I think it was a three and out to start that,” Michigan first-year head coach Sherrone Moore said after suffering his third loss in seven games in his new post. “We went three and out, they went three and out, and then that happened. It was a huge momentum shift.

“… That was a good call by them. Again, I’ve got to do a better job there knowing the situation.”

Michigan allowing the fake punt was especially consequential. The Wolverines had just forced a three-and-out on Illinois’ first possession of the second half, but the big gain on the fake preceded a Luke Altmyer touchdown on a quarterback sneak and successful two-point conversion to mark the only points of the second half. Illinois took a 21-7 advantage, and that wound up being the final score.

Defense kept Michigan in the game

Michigan’s defense continually gave the team a chance on the road, forcing Illinois to three field goal attempts and only allowing 8 second-half points, but it didn’t get enough help from the offense and special teams.

“Just gotta work better together as a team. If it isn’t obvious enough: it’s the offense [that’s the problem],” Michigan junior tight end Colston Loveland said. “The defense is doing their thing. We just gotta score. They’re holding them to field goals, blocking field goals, doing everything they can. Just gotta figure it out.”

Illinois’ touchdowns came when the defense was put in tough spots. The two possessions included the Illini taking over at their own 49-yard line coming off a Michigan fumble and at the U-M 16-yard line after the fake punt (the latter technically began at their own 45-yard line, before the three-and-out and fake).

“The defense, they were great,” Michigan graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle said. “And we put them in bad positions all the time. It was like one unit was out there today that showed grit the whole game, and the other two gotta be better. It starts with us. Can’t turn over the ball.

“Obviously, we put them in bad situations, right? I don’t think Illinois had that many yards. They were in plus territory. You just can’t do that.”

“They got a point off the fumble, a touchdown off the fumble, a touchdown off of [the fake],” Moore added. ‘Because our defense was playing really well. Again, they averaged I think plus 45, 45-yard-line field position.”

Altmyer completed only 9 passes on 18 attempts, going for 80 yards and a touchdown to Arkin, which came in the middle of the second quarter. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder’s 80 passing yards are the least he’s had in a game since coming in as a backup during his 2022 season as an Ole Miss player.

Altmyer did hurt Michigan on some scrambles, though, rushing 10 times for 48 yards. He picked up 3 first downs with his legs, in addition to the touchdown on the sneak.

“Just containing the quarterback,” senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart said. “We knew coming in he’d be a little scrambly and excited back there, but just staying on our teaching points. Gotta be better at that.”

Michigan defense / special teams miscellaneous notes

• Illinois rushed for 187 yards, the most Michigan has allowed in a game since Dec. 31, 2022 against TCU (263).

• Paige’s blocked field goal was the first of his career and Michigan’s second of the season. The blocked field goal gives U-M’s special teams unit a blocked kick in three straight games (punt vs. Minnesota; field goals at Washington, at Illinois).

• Sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill has notched at least one pass breakup in six of the team’s seven games. He’s the team’s leader with 6 pass breakups on the season.

• Doman’s 32.7-yard average on his punts is his second-lowest mark of the season (Texas, 32).

• Stewart and junior EDGE Derrick Moore combined for Michigan’s lone sack of the afternoon. Stewart is the team’s leader with 6.5 on the season, and Moore is up to 1.

• Michigan registered a whopping 8 tackles for loss. Stewart led the way with 1.5, while junior linebacker Ernest Hausmann, graduate safety Quinten Johnson, sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill and junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant each had 1. Others had half-TFLs.

• Junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham led Michigan in both tackles (7) and pass breakups (2). His 7 tackles tied his season high (Arkansas State).

• The Wolverines notched 5 pass breakups.

• Zvada was previously perfect on field goals, 8-for-8, but missed his lone attempt at Illinois.