No. 19 Michigan is back at The Big House on Saturday afternoon for its third straight home game, and the matchup with UTEP comes with a clear expectation: the Wolverines need to look the part of a team that just knocked off a ranked Oklahoma squad.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST, with Michigan trying to build on that week two bounce-back win and handle business against a Miners team that arrives with a 1-1 record. UTEP is also coming off a game against Texas Southern last weekend, and it already has a common opponent with Michigan after getting rolled 51-0 by Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
These programs have never faced each other before, which fits the geography and size gap between the schools. But the real focus in Ann Arbor is less about novelty and more about whether Michigan can finally find some rhythm on offense.
That starts with the passing game. Through two weeks, Michigan has not done much through the air, totaling just 281 passing yards.
Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood has completed about 54% of his throws, going 21-for-40 with one touchdown and one interception. This game offers a clean chance to spread the ball around, especially to Andrew Marsh, who has only five catches for 28 yards so far after the strong finish to his freshman season raised expectations.
The run game has been just as frustrating. Jordan Marshall entered the season with All-American upside, but Michigan still needs him to look like the player he was late last year. That kind of production would help the offense in more than one way, taking pressure off Underwood and making the whole attack easier to manage.
Beyond the individual pieces, Michigan is looking for a game where it simply overwhelms the opponent from start to finish. Against UTEP, this is the kind of week that should tell the Wolverines whether they can do that.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans May Need To Rethink Pregame Plans For UTEP
Michigan fans heading into the UTEP game may need a little more flexibility in their usual Saturday routine. Michigan Athletics and public safety officials are keeping an eye on weather conditions that could affect the schedule, including possible delays to gate openings and parking access, with the university directing fans to rely on official athletics channels for the latest updates.
For a No. 19 Michigan team that is 2-0, the on-field focus remains the same, but the pregame experience may look different depending on how the weather develops. If gates do not open on time, fans are being told to stay in safe locations and wait for further guidance, a reminder that the logistics around kickoff can shift quickly even when the game itself is still on track. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has One Big Concern After Another Blowout Win
Michigan kept rolling in a 52-17 win over UTEP to move to 3-0, and the final score reflected how thoroughly the Wolverines took control after shaking off a sluggish start. Early turnovers could have made things interesting, but the offense settled in and the second half turned into another convincing display, with quarterback Bryce Underwood throwing for 223 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters.
Andrew Marsh was a bright spot again, finishing with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, giving Michigan another reliable target as the passing game found a rhythm. The defense also settled in after a few early mistakes, but even in a blowout like this, the game did not fully erase the concern that has lingered around the Wolverines through the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Finally Found Some Offense But A Bigger Worry Is Growing
Michigan finally got the kind of offensive afternoon it had been waiting for, rolling past UTEP 52-17 as Bryce Underwood looked more comfortable as a passer and the unit found more rhythm than it had shown earlier in the season. There was even a milestone for the freshman group, with Tommy Carr tossing his first career touchdown pass, a small but useful sign that Michigan was getting production from more than one spot on the field.
Still, the more immediate concern out of the win may be on the other side of the ledger, where the injury list keeps getting harder to ignore. Right tackle Andrew Sprague, running back Jordan Marshall and cornerback Zeke Berry all missed time or were limited, and for a team trying to build momentum, those absences could matter as much as any box score improvement. Michigan got the offense it needed Saturday, but the health of a few key players is becoming a bigger storyline by the week. [Read more 🡒]