Michigan Football CB Jyaire Hill ‘atoned’ for crucial penalty with game-changing INT

With the Oklahoma Sooners back up at their own goal line, Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill committed a back-breaking penalty that allowed the Sooners to retain possession and eventually tie the game. But as head coach Kyle Whittingham put it after the game, Hill "atoned for it" with a pivotal interception to set up Michigan's game-winning touchdown in a 17-10 win over Oklahoma on Saturday.

It appeared the Wolverines were going to get the ball back with a 10-7 lead in the third quarter, but that's until Hill was flagged for a personal foul penalty on third down. The lapse in judgement gave Oklahoma new life, and the Sooners later hit a game-tying field goal.

However, Hill didn't sulk or wallow in self-pity. The senior cornerback immediately moved onto the next play, and he eventually made the biggest play of the game by grabbing a clutch interception to steal momentum away from the Sooners.

With the game tied 10-10, Hill snatched the John Mateer pass out of the air and returned it down the sideline before being pushed out of bounds with 8:40 left in the fourth quarter. Less than a minute later, Michigan scored the go-ahead touchdown.

"He understands the penalty was a mistake," Kyle Whittingham told the media after the game. "For him to come back and make the play of the game, he atoned for it. Not only the interception, but the return to set up the touchdown."

The Wolverines never allowed Oklahoma to regain momentum en route to securing a statement win, and Hill's pick will certainly go down as the turning point. Even if it came after a bone-headed mistake, Hill's interception clearly made up for it.

"I messed up a little bit on the penalty but the whole team has a next-play mentality," Hill said. "I just had to move on to the next play. I put a lot of time into preparation so I knew what they were going to do, and all I had to do was execute."

Hill also explained what was going through his mind as the play developed.

"I didn't know if (Mateer) was going to throw it or not, but I knew I had to capitalize on the ball in the air," Hill said. "I just caught it and ran down the sideline. I really thought it was going to be a free touchdown but I got hit out of bounds."

Hill has been a starting cornerback the last three seasons and is one of the Big Ten's best cornerbacks, but he's struggled to capitalize on plays like that in the pas, just barely missing out on potential interceptions. In fact, Hill had a near interception in the loss at Oklahoma last year that could have changed the outcome of that game.

A year later, Hill made sure to take advantage of the ball being in his grasp, and that directly led to Michigan earning a much-needed win .

"What a play," Michigan defensive end John Henry Daley said. "The great thing about this team is we have playmakers up and down. Knowing your teammates have trust in you makes you want to make plays, and he made a fantastic play."

A player never wants to cost his team by committing a foolish penalty, but I guess if you're going to, at least do what Hill did and atone for it with a game-winning play.