Michigan football's spring practice epoch in 2026 came to a close with the annual spring game on Saturday, which saw the Maize team beat the Blue team, 7-6.

It wasn't exactly a spectacular display, with essentially no fireworks to speak of. There weren't a lot of starters who played much beyond the first quarter -- if that. It was, essentially, a light showcase of the depth that the Wolverines have.

National writer Brad Crawford broke down some of the bigger spring games that took place across the country on Saturday, and his evaluation of Michigan was that the defense is strong, but the team also didn't really show much of anything.

For now -- and this is only from a brief scrimmage glimpse with vanilla game-planning and plenty of depth players -- new Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill has early bragging rights over offensive play-caller Jason Beck as the Wolverines prepare for the 2026 season under Kyle Whittingham.

Hill, who played under Whittingham at Utah, inherits a unit that replaces several key starters and contributors from last year's squad and has spent 15 practices trying to install a complicated scheme. He said last month it would look a lot like Michigan's defense from 2023, an aggressive, constantly attacking unit.

During Saturday's 40-minute scrimmage -- a controlled practice of sorts with basic defensive fronts and two-high coverages -- Michigan's defense kept chunk plays to a minimum and tackled well in space, leading to only three first-half points between alternating snaps from quarterbacks Bryce Underwood and Tommy Carr.

He continued beyond that, but his evaluation was correct.

Michigan football special teams coach Kerry CoombsBryce UnderwoodMichigan defensive ends coach Lewis PowellMichigan football WR Travis JohnsonMichigan football WR coach Micah SimonMichigan football LB coach Alex WhittinghamMichigan football assistant WR coach Marques Hagns2028 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Marshaun Thornton, four-star CB Tavares Harrington, and S commit Darrell Mattison2027 Indianapolis (Ind.) Franklin Central four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer2027 Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge EDGE Alex JohnsonMichigan OT signee Malakai LeeMichigan DT signee Alister VallejoMichigan football QB coach Koy Detmer Jr.Michigan football DT coach Larry BlackMichigan football EDGE signee Carter MeadowsMichigan football OC Jason BeckMichigan football EDGE Cam BrandtMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah EdmondMichigan football ST coach Kerry CoombsMichigan football EDGE Lugard EdokpayiMichigan football LB Troy BowlesMichigan football freshman S Jordan Deck2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre BiddenMichigan football OT Marky WalbridgeMichigan football RB Savion HiterMichigan football LB Nathaniel Owusu-BoatengMichigan football LB Nathaniel StaehlingMichigan football WR coach Micah SimonAvery Gach and Houston Ka'ahaina-Torres work to combo block DT Enow EttaTE Eli Owens celebrates a first downNathan Efobi takes on Jonah Lea'eaBryce Underwood rears back to passBryce Underwood scrambles after protection breaks downMichigan football RB Jordan MarshallKyle WhittinghamJason BeckMichigan football WR Jaime FfrenchBryce Underwood unloadsBryce Underwood scramblesJordan Marshall breaks freeMichigan football S Ernest NunleyKyle WhittinghamJason BeckMichigan football CB Shamari EarlsMichigan football WR Jacob WashingtonMichigan football WR Jacob WashingtonMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady NortonMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady NortonTommy Carr hands off to Jonathan BrownMichigan football OL Evan LinkMichigan football WR Travis JohnsonKyle WhittinghamMichigan football WR Jaime FfrenchMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football EDGE McHale Blade and DT Ted HammondMichigan football K Trey ButkowskiMichigan football OL coach Jim HardingMichigan football WR Salesi MoaMichigan football S Taylor TatumMichigan football WR Salesi MoaMichigan football EDGE McHale BladeMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah EdmondMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah EdmondMichigan football WR Jamar BrowderKyle WhittinghamKyle WhittinghamFormer Michigan football TE Marlin KleinKyle WhittinghamMichigan football RB Tomas O'MearaMichigan football RB Tomas O'MearaThe blue team celebrates a defensive stop by freshman LB Markel DabneyMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitMichigan football CB coach Jernaro GilfordMichigan football WR Andrew MarshMichigan football RB Jonathan BrownMichigan football QB Brady SmigielMichigan football LB Aisea MoaMichigan football WR Jamar BrowderMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football RB Tomas O'MearaMichigan football S Kainoa WinstonMichigan football LB Markel DabneyMichigan football CB Jamarion VincentKyle WhittinghamMichigan football LB Aden ReederMichigan football S Taylor TatumKyle WhittinghamKyle WhittinghamMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitJonathan Brown tosses to Logan Forbes on the double-reverseMichigan football QB Tommy CarrJaylen Pile and the maize team celebrate the go-ahead touchdownTony Alford and Kerry Coombs2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota GuerrantMichigan football DT signee Alister VallejoMichigan football DT signee Titan DavisMichigan football spring gameMichigan football WR Andrew MarshMichigan football OL Evan LinkKyle Whittingham speaks to the Michigan football team after the spring gameMichigan football S Jordan YoungMichigan football DT Jonah Lea'eaMichigan football WR Jaime FfrenchThe Michigan football defensive backfieldThe Michigan football running backs roomThe Michigan football wide receiversMichigan football DT Travis MotenChase Taylor, Ernest Nunley, Jordan Young, and Jordan DeckKainoa Winston and Jamarion VincentJordan Deck and Ernest NunleyNathaniel Owusu-BoatengJohn Henry DaleyJordan DeckJordan Deck, Jamarion Vincent, and Ernest NunleyMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitJonah Lea'ea, Trey Pierce, and Enow Etta2028 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech five-star QB Donald TabronMalakai Lee and Jim HardingJyaire Hill and Jo'Ziah Edmond with recruits1 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs1 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs2 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood3 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell4 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Travis Johnson5 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR coach Micah Simon6 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB coach Alex Whittingham7 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football assistant WR coach Marques Hagns8 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Marshaun Thornton, four-star CB Tavares Harrington, and S commit Darrell Mattison9 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2027 Indianapolis (Ind.) Franklin Central four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer10 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2027 Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge EDGE Alex Johnson11 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan OT signee Malakai Lee12 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan DT signee Alister Vallejo13 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB coach Koy Detmer Jr.14 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT coach Larry Black15 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE signee Carter Meadows16 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OC Jason Beck17 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE Cam Brandt18 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond19 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football ST coach Kerry Coombs20 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE Lugard Edokpayi21 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Troy Bowles22 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football freshman S Jordan Deck23 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden24 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant25 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden26 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OT Marky Walbridge27 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Savion Hiter28 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng29 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Nathaniel Staehling30 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR coach Micah Simon31 / 125CBS Sports: Michigan football's spring game reveals strong defenseAvery Gach and Houston Ka'ahaina-Torres work to combo block DT Enow Etta32 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameTE Eli Owens celebrates a first down33 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameNathan Efobi takes on Jonah Lea'ea34 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood rears back to pass35 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood scrambles after protection breaks down36 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Jordan Marshall37 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham38 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJason Beck39 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jaime Ffrench40 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood unloads41 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood scrambles42 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Marshall breaks free43 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Ernest Nunley44 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham45 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJason Beck46 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Shamari Earls47 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jacob Washington48 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jacob Washington49 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton50 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton51 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameTommy Carr hands off to Jonathan Brown52 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Evan Link53 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Travis Johnson54 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham55 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jaime Ffrench56 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr57 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr58 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr59 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr60 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE McHale Blade and DT Ted Hammond61 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football K Trey Butkowski62 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL coach Jim Harding63 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Salesi Moa64 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Taylor Tatum65 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Salesi Moa66 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE McHale Blade67 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond68 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond69 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jamar Browder70 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham71 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham72 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameFormer Michigan football TE Marlin Klein73 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham74 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Tomas O'Meara75 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Tomas O'Meara76 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe blue team celebrates a defensive stop by freshman LB Markel Dabney77 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit78 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit79 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB coach Jernaro Gilford80 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Andrew Marsh81 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Jonathan Brown82 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Brady Smigiel83 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Aisea Moa84 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jamar Browder85 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr86 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Tomas O'Meara87 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Kainoa Winston88 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Markel Dabney89 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jamarion Vincent90 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham91 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Aden Reeder92 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Taylor Tatum93 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham94 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham95 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit96 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJonathan Brown tosses to Logan Forbes on the double-reverse97 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr98 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJaylen Pile and the maize team celebrate the go-ahead touchdown99 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameTony Alford and Kerry Coombs100 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant101 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT signee Alister Vallejo102 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT signee Titan Davis103 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football spring game104 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Andrew Marsh105 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Evan Link106 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham speaks to the Michigan football team after the spring game107 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Jordan Young108 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT Jonah Lea'ea109 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jaime Ffrench110 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe Michigan football defensive backfield111 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe Michigan football running backs room112 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe Michigan football wide receivers113 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT Travis Moten114 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameChase Taylor, Ernest Nunley, Jordan Young, and Jordan Deck115 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKainoa Winston and Jamarion Vincent116 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Deck and Ernest Nunley117 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameNathaniel Owusu-Boateng118 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJohn Henry Daley119 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Deck120 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Deck, Jamarion Vincent, and Ernest Nunley121 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit122 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJonah Lea'ea, Trey Pierce, and Enow Etta123 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech five-star QB Donald Tabron124 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMalakai Lee and Jim Harding125 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJyaire Hill and Jo'Ziah Edmond with recruitsThough many have thoughts on Bryce Underwood vs. Tommy Carr at quarterback, Kyle Whittingham was emphatic in the aftermath that Underwood has a firm grip on the QB1 position, and that he's seen improvement over the course of 15 practices.

Now the Wolverines will be off until June, when they'll return for summer conditioning with an eye on fall camp.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football spring game takeaways