No. 19 Michigan just hammered UTEP with a dominant 52-17 win on Saturday, moving them to a perfect 3-0 on the season. What’s wild is this game wasn’t a blowout from the jump, even with the Wolverines entering as massive 34.5-point favorites.
Underwood Shakes Off Early Fumble, Shows Glimpses of Greatness
Quarterback Bryce Underwood definitely had a day. He finished with strong numbers, going 19-25 for 223 passing yards and two touchdowns, with zero interceptions. That’s solid, right? He even chipped in 22 rushing yards on six carries. But it wasn’t perfect. He coughed up a fumble in the first quarter, which is always a heart-stopper. Still, his overall play was super encouraging, especially as everyone watches him develop as a top prospect for the 2028 NFL Draft. This dude’s got potential, no doubt.
From Down 14-7 to a Second Half Blitz
This game was a real test of Michigan’s mental toughness. They were down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and even trailed 14-7 late in the second! Not exactly what you expect from a ranked team against a massive underdog. But they clawed back, with Underwood hitting JJ Buchanon for a touchdown pass to tie it up. Then, a 49-yard field goal gave them their first lead, heading into halftime up 17-14. That second half? Pure fire. Michigan absolutely exploded, outscoring UTEP 28-0 in the third quarter alone. They hit the end zone three times on offense, and defensive lineman Jonah Lea’ea even snagged a pick-six off UTEP quarterback EJ Colson Jr. Talk about a statement! With backup Tommy Carr taking over in the fourth, the Wolverines cruised to victory, racking up 431 total yards and converting nine of 13 third-down chances.
Kyle Whittingham’s squad has shown real resilience. After a nail-biter to kick off the season against Western Michigan, they’ve now stacked two impressive wins. This team knows how to finish, and that’s huge.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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