As the Michigan football machine has rolled the past few weeks, there was always a caveat.
What about against a team that’s not tired from traveling cross country? What about one without a high school coach? Or one about to get fired?
On Saturday, it was: what about an elite defense and one that is ranked in the Top 15.
These may be mere footnotes by the end of the season, as the No. 18 Wolverines made a definitive statement Saturday, whipping No. 13 Northwestern, 38-0, at Michigan Stadium before and announced attendance of 110,452.
The game launched Michigan’s stellar defense into historic territory with its third straight shutout, the first time for the program since 1980.