Michigan has a chance to make a statement in Week 3, and the setup is about as clear as it gets. The Wolverines are 2-0, favored by 35.5 points, and facing a UTEP team that arrives at 1-1 after a 51-10 win over Texas Southern and a 51-0 loss to Oklahoma.
That kind of spread usually leaves little room for drama. But Michigan already showed in Week 1 against Western Michigan that the favorite’s label doesn’t guarantee a clean afternoon.
The bigger picture changed fast in Week 2, when the Wolverines turned around and knocked off then-No. 11 Oklahoma.
Now the task is simpler: finish non-conference play with the kind of performance that looks like a team ready to move on to Big Ten competition.
There are still some obvious boxes to check. Penalties remain a major issue, and playing a cleaner game is one of the biggest priorities.
The run game also needs to get rolling, especially with Jordan Marshall as a focal point. And after two games, there’s still room for more takeaways from the defense.
A dominant showing would also give Kyle Whittingham the kind of runway he wants before conference play begins. Getting a chance to rotate younger players in against UTEP would be a bonus. The alternative is a messy, closer-than-expected game where the defense has to keep covering for an offense that never finds a rhythm, and that would leave a very different feeling with Iowa coming to town next week.
Brandon Brown’s prediction points to exactly what Michigan should be chasing: a heavy dose of production on the ground and more disruption on defense. He wants both Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter to average more than five yards per carry and score, with UTEP’s run defense offering a real opportunity to build chemistry. He also wants Bryce Underwood to hit a couple shot plays through the air.
Defensively, the standard stays high. Brown notes that Jay Hill’s unit has allowed only one touchdown in eight quarters, and keeping that level going would be the goal. A shutout would be ideal, but if that doesn’t happen, Michigan should still be looking for takeaways and sacks from Dom Nichols, Nate Marshall, John Henry Daley, and perhaps either of the freshmen, Tariq Boney and Carter Meadows, before the Hawkeyes arrive.
In Other News...
Michigan Gets An Injury Lift But One Roster Concern Still Lingers
Michigan is set to get a healthier look heading into its matchup with UTEP, with offensive lineman Evan Link and edge rusher Carter Meadows both expected to be available after sitting out the previous game with injuries. Running back Jordan Marshall is also expected to go despite some minor issues, giving the Wolverines a chance to regain a bit more depth on both sides of the ball as they move deeper into the early part of the season.
The one spot still worth watching is tight end Hogan Hansen, who remains questionable, leaving a little uncertainty in a position group that has already had to manage its share of moving parts. Michigan also knows it will be without Andrew Babalola for the foreseeable future after a setback in his ACL recovery, a reminder that while some injury news is trending in the right direction, the roster is not fully out of the woods yet. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Suddenly Closing In On Another Huge EDGE Recruiting Win
Michigans growing reputation on the edge has become a real selling point again, and that matters when the staff starts talking to the next wave of pass rushers. The Wolverines have built a strong track record at the position, with Aidan Hutchinson standing out as the headliner among the NFL names tied to the program, and that kind of development pitch is clearly resonating with top young defenders.
One of the latest examples is Javonte Eldridge, the top-ranked 2028 EDGE prospect from Indiana, who recently visited Ann Arbor and is being viewed as a major Michigan target. The Wolverines are also in the mix for fellow 2028 pass rushers Asa Burch and Major Stokes, which says plenty about how aggressively the staff is trying to keep stacking talent on defense as this recruiting class starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans 2026-27 Schedule Just Raised The Stakes For Rivalry Season
The Michigan mens basketball team now knows the shape of its 2026-27 grind, with the full schedule out and the Big Ten having already set dates and times for conference play. It is a slate built around the usual league landmines, with 20 Big Ten games spread across 16 home dates and 10 road trips, plus the nonconference events and the league tournament in Indianapolis.
The familiar rivalry stretch stands out immediately, especially with Michigan State and Ohio State on the docket, along with conference trips that will send the Wolverines to both USC and UCLA. The schedule gives the program its road map for the season, but it also leaves the real intrigue in how those rivalry nights and cross-country league tests will play once the calendar starts to turn. [Read more 🡒]