5 things we learned in Michigan football win over Minnesota
![Oct 7, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates the win after the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports Oct 7, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates the win after the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5a3eea41aac1c7471d3a9801c6e133fd0cadc7c4b31446df9fbee430d05b6e98.jpg)
The pass defense is as good as it gets
Michigan football hasn’t faced a bunch of elite quarterbacks or anything, but the Wolverines pass defense has been spectacular.
That was reinforced on Saturday night. Will Johnson, Rod Moore, and Makari Paige took time to get healthy but you can see the impact of it now.
Minnesota did get one touchdown. It was a good throw and Mike Sainristil got beat down the sideline, however, the Wolverines allowed five completions all game and got two interceptions.
Outside of the 35-yard completion for a touchdown on the second-to-last play of the first half, Michigan football allowed just one completion of more than 10 yards and 17 yards total.
Everyone knows that the run defense is exceptional. However, now that the secondary is healthy, the back end of the defense is playing as well as any in the country.
That’s a good thing with some of the challenges that lie ahead, but I can’t think of a better pass defense in college football right now than Michigan’s, despite a couple of coverage lapses.