Michigan’s offense spent the first half of Saturday afternoon feeling its way through the game, then flipped the switch and never looked back.
The Wolverines rolled past UTEP 52-17 at The Big House in Ann Arbor on Sept. 19, but the scoreboard only tells part of the story. Michigan actually trailed 14-7 midway through the second quarter before taking control and turning the final two and a half quarters into the best stretch its offense has produced this season.
Two pass catchers stood out above the rest: Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan. At this point, they look like the most reliable threats Michigan has on offense.
Marsh was the one Michigan made a point to get involved early. The Wolverines got the ball to him quickly and let him operate in space, and he rewarded that approach with one of the game’s best grabs on a third-down play, snagging the ball with one hand to move the chains.
Marsh entered the week with five receptions for 28 yards over the first two games. Against UTEP, he blew past that production, finishing with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Buchanan kept doing what he has done all season: show up, stay steady and make plays. He finished with seven catches for more than 90 yards and a touchdown, giving Michigan another dependable option through the air.
The run game didn’t have much room to breathe early, and the offensive line was part of that story. UTEP packed the box and kept safeties out of deep coverage, forcing Michigan to prove it could beat them throwing the ball. That strategy made life harder for the backs.
Still, there were too many snaps where Michigan’s line simply didn’t win enough at the point of attack, especially against an opponent like UTEP. Outside of the early penalties and turnovers, that was one of the most obvious issues from the afternoon.
There was also a fresh face worth noting. Freshman Tommy Carr got his first action and made it count, completing both of his passes. His second completion went for his first career touchdown in Maize and Blue.
On the other side of the quarterback picture, Bryce Underwood looked more comfortable than he did in the opener. After a first-half fumble, he settled in and played a cleaner game, staying in the pocket longer and working through his progressions more often.
Against UTEP, that kind of growth was enough for Michigan fans to take away something encouraging.
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 🡒]