Michigan finally got the kind of offensive jolt it has been waiting for in Saturday’s 52-17 win over UTEP, but the shine from Bryce Underwood’s breakout came with a familiar problem hanging over everything: the ball keeps hitting the ground.
Underwood was sharp in the victory, going 19 of 25 through the air and looking far more comfortable in Jason Beck’s scheme. Michigan also cleared the 400-yard mark and found a rhythm that had been missing. Still, the performance didn’t fully quiet the concern that has dogged the offense through three games.
The Wolverines have put the football on the turf six times already, and head coach Kyle Whittingham made it clear that is not remotely good enough for a team with championship ambitions. He pointed to two early fumbles against UTEP as the reason another game started slowly.
Ball security, Whittingham said, is hammered home every day in practice. There isn’t some secret fix, just constant repetition.
The staff keeps working the basics, stressing that ball carriers need to keep the pigskin high and tight with the wrist above the elbow. Whittingham also held up last year’s national champions, Indiana, as the model, noting they lost just one fumble all season.
That turnover issue has obscured some real progress elsewhere. Michigan’s offensive line turned in its best outing of the season even though it had to operate with a brand-new combination that had not practiced together at all during the week.
Evan Link slid in at left tackle without midweek reps, which pushed Blake Frazier to the right side. The group still helped pave the way for 185 rushing yards, and center Jake Guarnera drew special praise from Whittingham, who called him one of the most consistent interior linemen in the conference.
The run game got a steady effort from Savion Hiter and Jordan Marshall, who both finished around the 60-yard range. Marshall, still dealing with a nagging injury that has left him less than 100 percent, flashed the downhill power Michigan wants from him, especially out of the wildcat.
Andrew Marsh was another bright spot, breaking out with more than 100 receiving yards and joining J.J. Buchanan as a clear primary target. Behind them, Channing Goodwin, Kendrick Bell, and Celesi Moa are still fighting for that important third receiver spot.
Now the schedule gets serious. Seventeenth-ranked Michigan is headed for a matchup with eighteenth-ranked Iowa, and Iowa brings the nation’s top defense.
That’s a bad combination for a team still handing out extra possessions. If Michigan wants to survive the Big Ten stretch ahead, the giveaways have to stop now.
In Other News...
Michigan Heads Into Iowa With One Injury Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Michigans offensive line had to absorb a jolt last week when right tackle Andrew Sprague was unavailable against UTEP, forcing a reshuffle up front at a time when the unit is trying to find some continuity. Kyle Whittingham said Spragues return window is still unclear, with the staff waiting on a more precise diagnosis and treatment plan before it can settle on a firmer timeline.
Jordan Marshall offers a steadier note heading into Iowa. The starting running back has been working back through nagging injuries, but he is expected to be available unless something changes, which at least gives Michigan a chance to keep some balance in the offense while the line situation sorts itself out. The real question now is how long the Wolverines may have to manage without Sprague, because the answer could shape more than just one game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Young QB Just Made A Bigger Roster Debate More Urgent
Tommy Carr got his first real taste of game action against UTEP, and the freshman quarterback made the most of a small sample. He completed both of his passes for 23 yards, threw a touchdown, and added 18 yards on the ground, a tidy debut that gave Michigan a quick look at what it might have in a young arm behind center.
Kyle Whittingham praised Carr afterward, but the larger conversation around the program is already growing beyond one outing. With the transfer portal making retention harder and the NCAAs new 5-for-5 rule giving coaches more freedom to play younger guys without burning a redshirt, Michigan has even more reason to weigh development against depth management. Carrs outing only sharpened that debate. [Read more 🡒]
Whittingham Sees One Michigan Issue That Early Wins Havent Fixed
Michigan has taken a step forward since its close opening game, but Kyle Whittingham made clear there is still a larger test ahead. Speaking to reporters, the coach pointed to the need for greater consistency and resilience when games get difficult, noting that progress is real but not yet complete. For a team trying to build on early wins, the message was less about celebrating what has already been cleaned up and more about sustaining it.
Whittingham said the Wolverines have to keep the same enthusiasm, passion and energy for the full length of games, especially once the pressure rises and the margin tightens. The improvement is encouraging, but the issue he flagged is one that tends to show up only after the easy moments are gone, and Michigan will keep facing that challenge until it proves it can hold its level when things turn messy. [Read more 🡒]