Sherrone Moore and Michigan Wolverines win more than just a game against Purdue as defensive star nears program record
Derrick Moore closing in on Aidan Hutchinson’s Michigan sack record as Wolverines defense dominates again
The Michigan Wolverines defeated Purdue in a somewhat ugly 21-16 victory Saturday, but Sherrone Moore and company won far more than just a game. With every passing week and every single victory Michigan moves one step closer to a chance at the College Football Playoff and of course upsetting Ohio State once again in dramatic fashion with incredibly high postseason stakes for both sides.
How did they do it? The offense certainly didn’t do Michigan any favors, but one defensive star keeps dominating each and every week for the Wolverines. Derrick Moore, star veteran edge rusher, now moves within striking distance of Aidan Hutchinson’s single season Michigan sack record after he tallied two more sacks against Purdue Saturday.
What Derrick Moore needs to break Michigan sack record
- After logging two more sacks against Purdue on Saturday Derrick Moore now has 8.5 sacks on the year through nine games played, now tied for 13th most in a single season through Michigan’s history
- Aidan Hutchinson’s single season record set in 2021 was 14 sacks
- Derrick Moore needs to get six sacks with three regular season games, a possible Big Ten Championship Game, and a bowl game or trip to the College Football Playoff remaining
Derrick Moore near pace to break Aidan Hutchinson’s Michigan sack record
Michigan’s defense shut down Purdue’s offense for essentially the entire game on Saturday as Derrick Moore and the Wolverines pass rush brought the pressure all game long. Michigan allowed just 276 total yards on defense, including just 138 yards passing. Derrick Moore racked up a handful of tackles, several pressures, and two sacks as he was once again one of the most destructive defenders on the field all game long.
Derrick Moore’s 8.5 sacks on the season ties Josaiah Stewart’s 2024 season-long effort, Josh Uche’s 2019, and Brandon Graham’s 2007. Moore’s 2025 sack mark already ranks 13th all-time in Michigan college football program history. If Michigan can keep winning games Moore might just break the single season record set by Aidan Hutchinson just four years ago.
Aidan Hutchinson averaged exactly one sack per game in his All-American 2021 season with 14 total sacks on the year. Moore is of course just barely off that pace with 8.5 in nine games. However, Michigan might not get the chance to play in 14 games like that 2021 Wolverines team unless they win out during the regular season.
Moore will need to continue ramping up his sack pace if he wants to lock in the program record, but he’s certainly been doing his best with that. Moore now has at least four pressures in each of the last three games. He has five sacks in that three-game span.
Michigan plays Northwestern and Maryland before facing off against Ohio State to end the regular season, which sounds like the perfect slate to rack up the sacks, but it actually won’t be surprisingly easy. Coming into Week 10 Northwestern ranked 29th in sacks allowed. Maryland ranked third. Translation? Moore is going to have to step up his game even higher given that neither team surrenders almost any sacks. Still, the record is very much within reach for Moore.
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