Michigan comes into its final non-conference game with UTEP carrying the kind of betting line that says plenty about what oddsmakers expect. The Wolverines are favored by 34.5 points, and the over/under sits at 48.5, which points to something like a 41-7 finish.
That number makes sense on paper, especially after what Michigan just showed against Oklahoma. The defense held up again in a 23-10 win, and if not for the Jyaire Hill personal foul, the Sooners may not have even reached double digits. Michigan has looked every bit the part on that side of the ball - maybe even better than advertised.
The offense, though, is the area that still needs cleaning up. Through two games, Michigan has scored 30 points and reached the end zone four times, plus one field goal.
One touchdown came on the Hail Mary pass. Another followed Hill’s interception, which set the Wolverines up at the six.
In other words, Michigan has managed only two sustained touchdown drives all season.
That has to change at some point, and this week feels like the right time. UTEP is 1-1, and the results have been extreme in both directions: Oklahoma rolled to a 51-0 win in Week 1, then the Miners bounced back with a 51-10 victory over Texas Southern. Quarterback EJ Colson threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in that game.
Still, there’s not much in UTEP’s profile that suggests trouble for Michigan if the Wolverines show up sharp. The Miners are allowing just 306 yards per game and only 3.6 yards per carry on the ground. Teams are also throwing for just 165 yards a game against them, so Michigan’s passing game will need to be cleaner than it has been.
Bryce Underwood took a step forward against Oklahoma and secured the QB1 job with 198 total yards and one interception. The passing attack needs more from him, but the bigger priority is getting the running backs rolling and finding a rhythm that lasts longer than a single explosive play.
Michigan already got a reminder earlier this season about what happens when an opponent is treated too casually, and that lesson should still be fresh. With some offensive issues to iron out, this looks like a week for the Wolverines to be at their best. The expectation here is that Underwood keeps building on last week and Michigan finally puts together the kind of breakout offensive showing it has been waiting for.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Made An Early Move That Should Excite Basketball Fans
While the football team was entertaining Oklahoma, Michigan basketball used the same weekend to work its own recruiting circuit, bringing in several top prospects for campus visits. Among the headliners were 2028 five-star forwards Dylan Betts and Brady Pettigrew, a sign that the staff is already thinking far ahead as it tries to build relationships with the next wave of elite talent.
The visits also included time with head coach Mike Boynton and former players, giving the recruits a fuller look at what Michigan can offer beyond the practice gym. Pettigrew has sparked some buzz because of the possibility that he could move up a class, but that remains unconfirmed for now, leaving the bigger question open: how much traction did Michigan gain with two of the most coveted names on its early board? [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Gained Real Recruiting Momentum After Beating Oklahoma
Michigans win over Oklahoma did more than improve the mood around the program. It also gave the staff a chance to put several high-profile visitors in the middle of the atmosphere, with five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and four-star prospects Nasir Richardson, Mekhi McNair, Asa Burch and Armani Strong among the recruits on hand. The setting mattered, and the reactions afterward suggested the day landed the way Michigan hoped it would.
The buzz extended beyond the field, too, with recruits and their families speaking positively about both the game-day environment and the broader feel around the program. Guerrant, who is currently committed to Oregon, is among the visitors now taking a harder look after the trip, which is the kind of momentum Michigan has been trying to build on the trail. The game provided a backdrop, but the real question is how far that visit can move things in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Shouldn't Overlook The UTEP Threats That Could Test This Opener
Michigan opens the season as a heavy favorite, but the spread alone will not make UTEP disappear. The Miners bring a few players who give this matchup some real shape, starting with quarterback EJ Colson Jr., who gives their offense a dual-threat element, and Kam Thomas, a versatile piece who can move around and create problems in different spots. Add running back Tavorus Jones to the mix and UTEP at least has enough skill talent to make the Wolverines stay alert early.
Defensively, the Miners also have a few names that could make the first game of the year feel less like a tune-up than Michigan would prefer. Linebacker Jayden Wilson has been one of the more active pieces on that side, while cornerback Justin Content brings the kind of coverage ability that can challenge timing throws. Michigan should still expect to control the game, but if UTEP is going to make it interesting at all, it will probably come through a handful of those individual matchups rather than a broad team upset push. [Read more 🡒]