Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from big road win at Wisconsin

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Oct 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) is sacked by Michigan Wolverines linebacker David Ojabo (55) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Mike Macdonald has Michigan’s defense back at the top

Let me preface this final takeaway by saying that Wisconsin might have a bottom-three offense in the Big Ten and that showed on Saturday afternoon as they just couldn’t get anything going yet again (it’s been a theme for the Badgers all year).

But Michigan’s stingy defense also deserves a ton of credit.

Graham Mertz gained some confidence at the end of the first half and it looked like the defense might be in trouble in the second half, but how did they respond to a touchdown by Wisconsin heading into the locker room with all the momentum? They shut out the Badgers on their own field in the final 29:30 minutes before Wisconsin scored a garbage-time touchdown.

Mike Macdonald has proven to be a heck of a hire by Jim Harbaugh this offseason, replacing Don Brown and he was one the main reasons the Wolverines were able to build a big lead.

Michigan’s defense was really bad last year but it looks like it’s back to elite status.

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