Michigan football heads into Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. kickoff against UTEP looking to clean up a few things, even after a win that pushed the conversation back toward football. The Wolverines are a 34.5-point favorite, and while UTEP has already shown some punch - including a 51-0 win over Texas Southern last week - Michigan can’t afford to treat this like a throwaway game.
The biggest reason confidence remains high is the defense. The question is whether the offense can do enough to make the spread matter, and that starts with Bryce Underwood. Michigan has been solid in spots through two games, but there are three areas that need sharper execution if Saturday is going to look the way the Wolverines want.
The running game has to wake up
This was one of the clearest concerns earlier in the week, and it still is. Michigan has faced two strong defenses, so there’s no need to panic, but the ground game simply hasn’t produced enough yet.
Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter have combined for 97 yards on 35 carries. That’s a startling number for a Michigan team that expects to lean on the run. The good news is the Wolverines have come close to popping some bigger plays, which suggests the breakthrough could be coming if the offensive line gets a little more coordinated and the backs finish runs better.
Jim Harding has a reputation as an elite offensive line coach, and the pieces are there. Everyone in the line rotation this season has started games before, so this feels like something that should get sorted out.
Saturday looks like the kind of matchup where that happens. A 200-yard rushing day wouldn’t be a surprise.
Andrew Marsh needs a bigger role
The passing game has room to grow too. Michigan is averaging just 140.5 passing yards per game, and Underwood didn’t throw much in the second half last week, which made sense against Brent Venables.
This week should bring a more open approach, and that means Andrew Marsh has to be part of it. JJ Buchanan has been stellar, but Marsh needs more touches. The sophomore has five catches for 28 yards, and that total should rise fast if Michigan wants the aerial attack to get moving.
Marsh was one of Underwood’s favorite targets last season, and that connection needs to show up again. Whether he doubles or triples his reception total or pushes past 100 receiving yards for the first time this year, getting him involved is the simplest way to help the passing game find some rhythm.
The penalties have to come down
Michigan’s penalty total is already up to 20, which puts the Wolverines in the top 10 nationally. That’s not the kind of number people expect from a Kyle Whittingham team, and it has to improve.
Not every flag was a clean example of poor discipline. Some were just the kind of break that goes against you, like the sack by Dominic Nichols that became a facemask when John Mateer’s helmet came off. But Michigan also hurt itself with penalties that handed Oklahoma free first downs in key moments, and a holding call erased one of Savion Hiter’s best runs of the season.
Without those mistakes, last week’s game might have ended by a margin of two or three scores. Against UTEP, Michigan will want a much cleaner version of itself.
In Other News...
Michigans 2026-27 Schedule Just Raised The Stakes For Rivalry Season
Michigans full 2026-27 mens basketball schedule is now out, and it gives a clearer picture of what awaits Juwan Howards program in a Big Ten that keeps making every night feel loaded. The league has already announced dates and times for all 20 conference games, and the slate includes 16 home dates, 10 road trips, and the usual mix of high-profile tests against familiar opponents like Michigan State, Ohio State, USC, and UCLA.
There is plenty of travel built into the calendar, too, with neutral-site tournaments giving the Wolverines more chances to be measured before the Big Ten grind reaches its final stretch in Indianapolis. For Michigan, the real intrigue is in how the rivalry stretch sets up, because once the conference schedule settles in, there is very little room to coast and even less margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Offense Faces A Bigger Problem Than Just UTEP
Michigans win over Oklahoma bought the Wolverines a little breathing room, but it also did not do much to disguise where the real concern lies. The defense held up its end, and now the focus shifts to UTEP coming to Ann Arbor, where the bigger question is whether the offense can start looking more like a unit that is ready for what comes next.
The passing game and the run game have both been stuck in a frustrating place, leaving Michigan with little margin as it heads toward the start of Big Ten play. Weather could also play a role in how much the offense can open up this week, but the larger issue is more basic than that: the Wolverines need cleaner, more consistent production soon, because UTEP is only the first step in a much tougher stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Already Chasing Another Quarterback For Its Future
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One of the clearest signs came with a visit from Carter Zingelmann, the dual-threat quarterback from Coppell, Texas, who is drawing attention as one of the top names in the 2028 cycle. Zingelmann already has multiple offers, and Michigan getting him on campus this early shows how aggressively it is trying to stay ahead of the curve at the sports most important position. For a program that knows quarterback recruiting can shape everything else, the message is pretty clear: one commitment is a start, not a stopping point. [Read more 🡒]