Michigan needed more than a win against UTEP. After nearly getting clipped by Western Michigan in Week 1 and then following the upset of No.
11 Oklahoma, the Wolverines had to look convincing, not just competent, in their final non-Power 4 game of the season. It took them a half longer than they probably wanted, but they got there in a 52-17 rout.
For two quarters, it looked a lot like the same old early-season Michigan mess. The penalties that had already been a problem were joined by turnovers, with Bryce Underwood and Savion Hiter each putting the ball on the ground. UTEP struck first, but Michigan answered with Hiter’s first career touchdown as a Wolverine and still carried only a 17-14 lead into halftime.
That’s when the game flipped.
Michigan came out of the break looking like a different team, and Kyle Whittingham made sure everyone knew what he wanted from his group at halftime.
"I told them in the first half we lacked passion and energy, and we didn't take care of the football," Whittingham said. "So if we take care of the football and play a little more excited, then we would be fine, and that's exactly what they did."
The response was immediate and overwhelming. Michigan outscored the Miners 35-3 in the second half, turning a shaky afternoon into the kind of non-conference finish the Wolverines needed before league play ramps up.
The defense kept doing what it has done all season, but the offense finally matched that edge. Underwood and the passing game found a rhythm, and the production spread around the roster instead of sitting on one or two shoulders.
Andrew Marsh led the receivers with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while JJ Buchanan added seven receptions for 92 yards and a score of his own. Hiter finished with two touchdowns after a slow start to the day, and Michigan’s run game finally had some finish to go with the flashes.
Once the margin grew, Michigan was able to empty the bench, and that included Tommy Carr. The Michigan legacy entered midway through the fourth quarter, got his first action of the season, and then threw his first career touchdown with his family watching from the stands. Salesi Moa was on the receiving end for his first touchdown as a Wolverine.
By the end, the box score looked the way Michigan wanted it to look, even if the path there was bumpy. The Wolverines got the blowout they needed, just not without a few reminders of how messy these first two weeks have been. Iowa is next, and this team now has to tighten up before the games get tougher.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans May Need To Rethink Pregame Plans For UTEP
Michigan fans heading into the UTEP game may need a little more flexibility in their usual Saturday routine. Michigan Athletics and public safety officials are keeping an eye on weather conditions that could affect the schedule, including possible delays to gate openings and parking access, with the university directing fans to rely on official athletics channels for the latest updates.
For a No. 19 Michigan team that is 2-0, the on-field focus remains the same, but the pregame experience may look different depending on how the weather develops. If gates do not open on time, fans are being told to stay in safe locations and wait for further guidance, a reminder that the logistics around kickoff can shift quickly even when the game itself is still on track. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has One Big Concern After Another Blowout Win
Michigan kept rolling in a 52-17 win over UTEP to move to 3-0, and the final score reflected how thoroughly the Wolverines took control after shaking off a sluggish start. Early turnovers could have made things interesting, but the offense settled in and the second half turned into another convincing display, with quarterback Bryce Underwood throwing for 223 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters.
Andrew Marsh was a bright spot again, finishing with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, giving Michigan another reliable target as the passing game found a rhythm. The defense also settled in after a few early mistakes, but even in a blowout like this, the game did not fully erase the concern that has lingered around the Wolverines through the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Finally Found Some Offense But A Bigger Worry Is Growing
Michigan finally got the kind of offensive afternoon it had been waiting for, rolling past UTEP 52-17 as Bryce Underwood looked more comfortable as a passer and the unit found more rhythm than it had shown earlier in the season. There was even a milestone for the freshman group, with Tommy Carr tossing his first career touchdown pass, a small but useful sign that Michigan was getting production from more than one spot on the field.
Still, the more immediate concern out of the win may be on the other side of the ledger, where the injury list keeps getting harder to ignore. Right tackle Andrew Sprague, running back Jordan Marshall and cornerback Zeke Berry all missed time or were limited, and for a team trying to build momentum, those absences could matter as much as any box score improvement. Michigan got the offense it needed Saturday, but the health of a few key players is becoming a bigger storyline by the week. [Read more 🡒]