Michigan is 2-0, and after the opening scare against Western Michigan, that’s not a small thing. Two weeks ago, it looked like the season might already be headed for the rocks. Instead, the Wolverines have steadied themselves, even if the shine from the win has dulled a bit after Ohio State coughed up a big lead in Austin and Oregon got embarrassed by Oklahoma State.
Still, Michigan will take a quiet upset win when the defense mostly did its job. Outside of a couple bad plays, that side of the ball was dominant.
Now comes a chance to clean things up in a “get better week” against UTEP, which was hammered by Oklahoma 51-0 just over a week ago.
The numbers tell the story of a team that’s been all over the map. UTEP’s best win is Texas Southern, 51-10, and its worst loss is that 51-0 beatdown from Oklahoma.
On offense, the Miners are averaging 162.6 passing yards per game, which ranks 201st, and 182 rushing yards, good for 58th. They’re scoring 25.5 points per game, which sits 91st, and giving up 30.5, which is 118th.
There’s even a strange little theme running through their results: they lost by 51 in Week 1 and scored 51 in Week 2. Maybe Michigan can keep the trend alive and put up 51 on Saturday afternoon.
Even with UTEP on deck, this is not a week for Michigan to get comfortable. There’s still plenty to fix in practice, especially if the Wolverines want a functional offense and tighter play on defense.
And the schedule doesn’t exactly ease up. A ranked Iowa team comes in two weeks, ranked Penn State follows three weeks after that, and the National Champs arrive just over a month from now. The Little Brown Jug trip is in there too.
Michigan moved up to No. 19 in both polls.
It was also nice to see the National Champs back together on Saturday, picking up their rings and enjoying an upset football win.
One more question from the BHB Inmates: How does Cole Sullivan transfer to OK and not even start? He did make one nice play that I saw on TV. He would be the star of the Michigan Defense right now.
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 🡒]