Michigan handled business in a rainy 52-17 win against UTEP on Saturday at Michigan Stadium, but let’s be real, that first half felt way too close for comfort. Yet, amidst the downpour and early jitters, what really jumped out was the receiving corps finally showing up huge. If you’ve been watching, you know the pass game needed a spark, and it got one.
Marsh and Buchanan Unlocked The Offense
You kidding me? Andrew Marsh, who’s had a rough start to his sophomore year with only five catches for 28 yards coming into this one, absolutely exploded. He snagged eight catches on nine targets for 68 yards *in the first half alone* against UTEP. And that sideline grab? Insane, right? It was initially ruled incomplete! The dude makes plays. He topped it off with a 34-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, pushing Michigan’s lead to 38-14. Finished the day with ten catches for 105 yards and a score. What a turnaround!
Not to be outdone, JJ Buchanan also came to play. He hauled in Underwood’s first touchdown pass, a 21-yard strike right before halftime. Five catches for 66 yards and that score in the first half? Yeah, he was feeling it. He ended with seven catches for 92 yards and his touchdown. With Big Ten play starting next week, seeing these two explode at the end of the non-conference schedule? That’s exactly what this pass game needed.
Savion Hiter Steps Up When It Matters Most
Sure, the stat sheet says Savion Hiter only ran 11 times for 62 yards, but those numbers are straight up lying. This kid looks absolutely ready to be RB1 if Jordan Marshall, who got dinged up in the third quarter, has to miss any time. Hiter scored his first college touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, showing some serious grit. And his second score? Even better! While the offensive line still needs to iron out some wrinkles in the run blocking, Hiter proved he can handle the full workload. If Marshall isn’t suiting up against Iowa next Saturday, we know who’s stepping in.
Linebackers Are Straight Up Ballers
And can we talk about these linebackers for a second? All those offseason questions? Poof. Gone. Three weeks in, this group has been pretty dang good, and against UTEP, they were flying all over the field. Chase Taylor led the charge with five tackles, plus a tackle for loss and half a sack. Troy Bowles and Max Alford each chipped in with four total tackles and a tackle for loss. Aisea Moa and Nathaniel Owusu- (what they did felt important, even if the source cut off their full details). The defense felt locked in.
With Big Ten play kicking off next week against Iowa, this UTEP game was more than just a win, it was a statement. Michigan’s pass game looks ready, and a new RB1 might have emerged. Can this momentum carry them into conference play? We’ll find out next Saturday if they bring this same fire!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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