Michigan football rolls UTEP in 2nd half, Tommy Carr throws TD pass

Michigan football looked like two different teams Saturday, Sept. 19, against lowly UTEP.

Ultimately, the better one took over and allowed the No. 19 Wolverines – 35½-point favorites – to roll in the second half for a 52-17 victory at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

Michigan (3-0) scored 38 straight points after trailing 14-7 in the second quarter following two fumbles lost, and led just 17-14 at halftime on a 49-yard field goal to beat the clock.

In the end, it became such a rout that freshman backup quarterback Tommy Carr made his collegiate debut and threw a touchdown pass.

Bryce Underwood had his best performance on the young season in the final nonconference matchup before Big Ten play begins next week against No. 20 Iowa. He was 19-for-25 passing for 223 yards and touchdown passes to JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh. Underwood lost the first fumble on the opening possession near the red zone, which UTEP (1-2) paid off in five plays on a 45-yard touchdown pass.

Five-star freshman running back Savion Hiter ran for two touchdowns and lost the second fumble. The Miners scored on the next play with an 18-yard pass for a 14-7 lead.

It was all Michigan after that.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Carr, the grandson of former Michigan national title-winning coach Lloyd Carr, entered the game. His first snap was a 4-yard completion on a quick slant to four-star freshman receiver Salesi Moa, and his second attempt found Moa in the left corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown, with mother Tammi Carr jumping for joy in the press box, one row below Lloyd.

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Michigan football schedule: Big Ten season on deck

The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 20 entering Week 3, visit next week to open conference play for Michigan. Iowa is blowing out FCS-opponent Northern Iowa in the fourth quarter and will be 3-0, too.

• Week 1: W, 13-12 vs Western Michigan.
• Week 2: W, 17-10 vs Oklahoma.
• Week 3: W, 52-17 vs UTEP.
• Week 4: vs Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 26 (3:30 p.m., CBS).
• Week 5: at Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 3 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 6: Bye week.
• Week 7: vs Penn State, Saturday, Oct. 17 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 8: vs Indiana, Saturday, Oct. 24 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 9: at Rutgers, Saturday, Oct. 31 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 10: vs Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 7 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 11: at Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 14 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 12: vs UCLA, Saturday, Nov. 21 (time and TV TBA).
• Week 13: at Ohio State, Saturday, Nov. 28 (Noon ET, Fox).

This breaking news story will be updated.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football rolls UTEP in 2nd half, Tommy Carr throws TD pass