Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from the rejuvenated win over Northwestern

2. Wink Martindale's defense intimidated Northwestern's offense

Over the last two games Michigan's defense has held Indiana and Northwestern to season lows in rushing. The two combined for just 50 yards rushing. Mullings and Edwards had 150 plus themselves on Saturday. That's a stark difference from where they were at the beginning of the month when the number one team was in town.

Northwestern's rush offense couldn't even sniff one yard per carry on 25 carries and was outmatched by a three to one margin in the first down category. Their most productive play of the day was for 39 yards in the second period. They didn't cross into Michigan football three-to-one territory again until the waning minutes of the fourth.

Jack Lausch had a season low negative 35 yards with his legs and barely reached 100 yards passing. He was sacked six times, twice from Josiah Stewart, and picked off by a pair of Wolverines. The Cats could only muster 127 yards of total offense, which is a season low for yardage by the Michigan defense. Six points is also the fewest point total all season as well.