Michigan's defense is exceptionally good and the Wolverines happen to be the only college football team in the country that sports a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate on the defensive side of the ball. However, Jim Harbaugh's team continues to rack up incredible achievements in stymying opposing offenses, and Michigan added another notch on Saturday.
Videos by FanBuzz
After the first quarter of a 41-8 blowout victory over Illinois, ESPN Stats & Info brought this nugget to the table:
Michigan has held its opponent scoreless in a quarter for the 17th time this season (the most in the FBS).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 22, 2016
From there, Don Brown's defense proceeded to blank the Illini for two additional quarters before (finally) allowing a long touchdown pass in the fourth. All told, the Wolverines have now posted 19 scoreless frames on the season and that number will likely grow in the (very) near future.
It is, of course, fair to point that a lot of the scoreless quarters have come at the expense of Illinois, Rutgers and other less then stellar offenses, but Michigan's talent is at an elite level (especially on the defensive line and in the secondary) and it is on display on a weekly basis. Next week, the Wolverines will look to add to this gaudy total against Michigan State and, when they do, Michigan will be highly motivated against their noted in-state rival.
