Michigan’s Defense Rebuilt Its Identity After USC, Peaking in November

Michigan’s defense is peaking at exactly the right moment, and Wink Martindale doesn’t hesitate to explain why. Days after the Wolverines’ 23-22 win over Northwestern — a game defined by two rare four-minute stops and a late surge from a maturing defensive unit — the veteran coordinator spent much of his press availability outlining a defensive philosophy grounded in fundamentals, discipline, and November toughness.