Notes: Northwestern 'couldn't really do much' against suffocating Michigan defense

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football blasted Northwestern, 50-6, on senior day at The Big House, putting forth a dominant effort in the program’s sixth win of the season overall and at home.

Michigan won by 44 points — its largest margin of victory since topping Michigan State, 49-0, Oct. 21, 2023. The Wildcats’ six points are the least by a U-M opponent this season and since that same shutout victory over the Spartans a year ago.

The defensive effort is part of a trend. Michigan allowed only seven points in the second half of a 38-17 loss to Oregon Nov. 2 and 15 overall in a 20-15 loss to Indiana Nov. 9.

The Wildcats amassed only 127 yards of offense (117 passing, 10 rushing), their second-fewest in a game this season, behind only the 112 they posted in a 24-5 setback to Washington Sept. 21. Michigan hasn’t held an opponent to that few of yards since surrendering only 110 in a 59-0 win over Connecticut Sept. 17, 2022.

Overall, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore believes that was his team’s most complete performance of the season.

“We had 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 25 guys had tackles,” Moore said of the defense.

“They couldn’t get the run game going. There was very little they could do in the passing game. Felt like our coverage was extremely tight. Especially, you get 6 sacks, it’s hard to throw the ball. Eight tackles for loss, the run game’s not going. Seems like they were just searching, couldn’t really do much because our defense was doing so much.”

Northwestern only had one drive that lasted more than 24 yards. The longest of the day was 46, with 39 coming on one long pass. Michigan’s defense held Northwestern to field goals on both red-zone trips.

Michigan’s defensive performance was highlighted by a pair of interceptions, with graduate cornerback Aamir Hall and freshman safety Mason Curtis each notching the first of their U-M careers (Hall had 7 interceptions in three seasons before transferring in).

Hall’s came on a 3rd and 10 play on the first possession of the game, when Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch was rolling to his right. Hall got in front of the ball and came down with it along the sideline.

Curtis, meanwhile, could’ve batted down a fourth-down pass over the middle, but chose to swipe it instead. With Michigan up 31-6 there was no harm.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Michigan senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart said of Curtis. “His frame is tremendous. I kinda see him as a Kyle Hamilton-type safety, just his range and he’s not afraid to hit and he’s really a ball hawk. So I’m excited to see where he’s gonna go.”

“Mason is gonna be a really good football player here — a long, rangy guy,” Hall chimed in. “He’s just starting to get his feet wet, so the sky’s the limit for him.”

Michigan won the turnover margin, 2-1. That was just the second time the Wolverines came out ahead in that key category all season, with the 27-24 win over Minnesota being the other (also 2-1).

Michigan pass rush gets going

Lausch is a mobile quarterback, but the Michigan defense swarmed him all afternoon long. The Wolverines registered a season-high 6 sacks, the most by the program in a game since posting an identical number in a 27-20 overtime victory over Alabama in last season’s Rose Bowl.

Michigan didn’t just get home on Lausch 6 times but also made him uncomfortable on other dropbacks and kept him in the pocket more than he would’ve liked.

“How well we worked together,” Stewart said of the best aspect of the pass rush. “It was us rushing in unison, staying on our quarterback points. And also the back end, working well with them. They gave us time. There were times there where we couldn’t get home, but the coverage helped us and then we got home. Just working together, not only as a front seven but also with the back end.”

Stewart, who was named a team captain midway through the season, posted 2 sacks, bringing him up to 6.5 on the season. He considered jumping to the NFL after last season but returned and is having a producitve year.

“Experience helps, with another season under my belt,” Stewart said. “I got a lot faster, a lot stronger, a lot smarter.”

Michigan got more help from the offense in this game than it has most of the season. The Wolverines’ previous high point total was 30 (Fresno State), and they topped that by more than 20 against Northwestern. Stewart said it doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of the defense’s mentality, though.

“Regardless of the score or what the situation is going, as a defense, we’re just proud to be on that field,” Stewart noted. “If the offense is scoring 20 points, 50 points, if we’re out there doing our job, we have a good chance to win.”

The Wolverine defense actually put up points themselves, notching a safety late in the fourth quarter with a forced intentional grounding in the end zone.

Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada adds to stellar season

Michigan junior kicker Dominic Zvada just continues to add to his outstanding campaign. He came into the game with 5 made field goals of 50-plus yards, already a program record, before nailing a 56-yarder that put Michigan up 10-3 in the first quarter. He then drilled a chip shot 28-yarder late in the game, extending the Wolverines’ advantage to 41-6.

Michigan’s special teams had some big plays in addition to the long Zvada make. Freshman kick returner Jordan Marshall ripped off a 63-yard return after the safety that set up another Michigan touchdown to bring the point total up to 50.

Miscellaneous Michigan football defense / special teams notes

• Northwestern’s 10 rushing yards are the fewest it’s had in a game since posting 8 in a 29-19 win over Michigan State Oct. 6, 2018. This was the Michigan rush defense’s second-best performance of the season. Fresno State only rushed for 9 yards against the Maize and Blue.

• The Wolverines have now held six of 11 opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards.

• Northwestern averaged 2.6 yards per play, the fewest by a Michigan opponent all season and since holding Connecticut to 2.1 in a 59-0 win Sept. 17, 2022.

• In the first half, the Michigan defense held Northwestern to 84 total yards and one-for-six on third-down conversions. That marked the fewest yards allowed by the Wolverines in the first half this season.

• Northwestern’s 43 second-half yards marked the second consecutive game that Michigan has held an opposing offense to under 50 yards in the second half (18 vs. Indiana).

• Today’s matchup marked the seventh time in eight Big Ten games this year that the Michigan defense reached at least 6.0 tackles for loss. It was the team’s sixth game (in eight) with at least 3.0 sacks.

• Michigan senior EDGE TJ Guy had a sack, bringing his season total up to 5.5. He has 3 over the last two games.

• Junior punter Tommy Doman punted only once for 48 yards. The punt was returned 27 yards by former U-M player A.J. Henning.

• Northwestern punter Hunter Renner attempted 4 punts, averaging 42.8 yards. The Wildcats pinned Michigan at its own 3-yard line on one.