2026 games, tackles for loss per game. W and L: the team’s results.
10 stories in the last 60 days, from 10 outlets.
Dom Nichols has Oklahoma QB John Mateer on his sack list
The Detroit News +1 Sep 10
Dominic Nichols
Played for three head coaches at Michigan: Sherrone Moore, Biff Poggi and Kyle Whittingham. One game to point at: 9 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss against Western Michigan — Week 1, 2026.
16 tackles · 2.5 sacks
Play style
Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 10 outlets
Dom Nichols has Oklahoma QB John Mateer on his sack list
The Detroit News +1 Sep 10 · 2 outlets
from 11 outlets
Dom Nichols has Oklahoma QB John Mateer on his sack list
The Detroit News +1 Sep 10 · 2 outlets
On3Michigan DE Dom Nichols wants to be the X-factor against OklahomaSep 9
The Michigan DailyDom Nichols’ unbridled intensity fueling ‘Psycho’, ‘Pit Bull’ monikersSep 10The Detroit News +1On3Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
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Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 5 games
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| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 13-12vs Western Michigan | 9 | 4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 17-10vs No. 11 Oklahoma | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 52-17vs UTEP | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | L 19-20vs No. 17 Iowa | 4 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 21-18vs Penn State | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 6 | 5.0 | 2.5 | — | 0 |
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 2 for him; the box score credits 1.
4 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 1 of his 4, sacks included.
Sacked the quarterback for a 5-yard loss on 3rd and 9. Second quarter, up 10-7.
1 tackle, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 2 for him; the box score credits 1.
1 tackle. He hurried the quarterback once.
Sacked the quarterback for a 4-yard loss. Fourth quarter, up 10-7.
9 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 sack, tied for 9th-most tackles for loss in FBS that week. He hurried the quarterback twice.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 10 for him; the box score credits 9.
Sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss. Second quarter, up 7-3.
Week 1 · 2026
W 13-12
1.5 sacks · 2.5 tackles for loss · 9 tackles
A close one, won by 1 at home.
Ratings of the games shown run from -24 to +12 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Sack rate
16%2 sacksTFL rate
31%5 TFLHurry rate
19%3 hurriesPressure-to-sack conversion
45%2 of 6 pressures16 tackles · 5 for loss · 2.5 sacks.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 5 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kyle Whittingham
Pass share
39.5%
192 pass / 294 run
Plays / game
60.8
8 games
Team sack rate
6.5%
217 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2026
About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive lineman who plays every week.
Recognition
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #8 of 8 Big Ten EDGEs
A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 35% of returning players who ranked #4–10 at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 31–38%).
2026 is in progress.
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Sherrone Moore → Kyle Whittingham. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
