No. 19 Michigan Football routs UTEP, 52-17
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The Michigan Wolverines(3-0) kept the ball rolling with their most dominant win of the season, routing UTEP (1-2) by a final score of 52-17. Here is everything you need to know from Michigan’s non-conference finale.
First quarter
Michigan got the ball rolling with a 10-play, 48-yard drive, as quarterback Bryce Underwood started 4-for-4. But a fast start quickly turned into a comedy of errors. Five minutes into the quarter, Underwood rolled out to his right and, having failed to properly secure the ball, spilled it into the open arms of UTEP linebacker Garrett Hawkins.
The Miners immediately made the Wolverines pay for their inability to secure the ball when quarterback E.J. Colson threaded a 45-yard dot over the middle of the field to wide receiver Carver Cheeks to put UTEP up 7-0. For the second time in three weeks, a Group of 6 team held the lead over Michigan.
The two teams traded punts on their next two drives, as the Wolverines’ struggles in run-blocking reared their heads again.
End of 1Q: UTEP 7, Michigan 0
Second quarter
Picking up where they left off at the end of the first, Michigan embarked on a 12-play drive kept alive by an incredible leaping toe-tap catch by wide receiver Andrew Marsh. It ended with a six-yard rush down the middle from running back Savion Hiter for the freshman phenom’s first touchdown as a Wolverine to level the score at 7-7, as Michigan’s occasionally laborious run-blocking finally gave way to three straight gains down the middle.
The Wolverines succeeded in forcing another UTEP punt thanks to hard tackling and a big play from linebacker Troy Bowles. But once again, on the very next drive, the laugh track would be cued up again, when on the very first play, Hiter ran head-first into safety Darnell Williams and had the ball knocked loose for Michigan’s second turnover of the half. Colson immediately completed an 18-yard pass down the left to running back Lamar Sperling to turn yet another Wolverines miscue into points, giving the Miners at 14-7 lead.
But Michigan was able to punch right back, running a four-minute, 10-play drive. Underwood took command of the offense, directing traffic with his short, rhythmic passes, culminating in a 21-yard-slant to wide receiver J.J. Buchanan to tie things up at 14-14.
A much-needed defensive stop gave Michigan back the ball, allowing Underwood to quickly get far enough down the field for kicker Trey Butkowski to get a shot from 49 yards down the field, which he duly converted to give the Wolverines the lead going into the half.
End of 2Q: Michigan 17, UTEP 14
Third quarter
UTEP got the ball to start the half, but it was remarkably short-lived, as the Wolverines forced a very quick three-and-out. And Michigan needed about two minutes and six plays to capitalize, as running back Jordan Marshall rode the momentum of a run-heavy drive for six yards into the end zone to expand the lead to 24-14.
Another forced punt later, it was more of the same. This time, from Hiter again, who took the ball eight yards for his second score of the day to close out another run-heavy drive. With the lead up to 31-14, it looked like the Wolverines had driven home the dagger.
But Michigan wasn’t done yet. After quickly recovering the ball, Underwood took command of the offense again, lining up in no-huddle for back-to-back plays and completing a pass to Marsh, who took it 34 yards to the house. And on the very next possession, defensive lineman Jonah Lea’ea picked off Colson deep in Miners territory and took it to the house, to drive the nail in — a fitting way to end a quarter that had been all Wolverines, all the time.
End of 3Q: Michigan 45, UTEP 14
Fourth quarter
The Miners recovered the ball to start the final quarter, and to their credit, ran their longest drive of the game thus far, ending with Carlos Arreola drilling an attempt from 39 yards out for UTEP’s first points of the half. And when the Wolverines recovered, the backups had taken the field, but there was still time for some fireworks.
Running a no-huddle offense, backup quarterback Tommy Carr drove Michigan down the field quickly, before dropping a 19-yard dot to receiver Salesi Moa to cross the 50-point mark.
A final defensive stop allowed Carr to kneel things out, and sign the dotted line on the Wolverines’ most dominant win of the young season.
Final score: Michigan 52, UTEP 17
Michigan stat leaders
- QB Bryce Underwood: 19-for-25, 223 yards, two touchdowns
- RB Jordan Marshall: 12 carries, 59 yards, one touchdown
- RB Savion Hiter: 11 carries, 62 yards, two touchdowns
- WR JJ Buchanan: Seven catches, 92 yards, one touchdown
- WR Andrew Marsh: 10 catches, 105 yards, one touchdown
- DE John Henry Daley: Three tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss
- LB Troy Bowles: Four tackles, one tackle for loss
- DE Tariq Boney: Four tackles, one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss
- LB Chase Taylor: Five tackles, 0.5 sacks, one tackle for loss
UTEP stat leaders
- QB E.J. Colson Jr: 7-for-9, 86 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
- WR Carver Cheeks: One catch, 45 yards, one touchdown
- RB Tavorus Jones: Nine carries, 34 yards
- S Xavier Smith: 11 tackles
- LB Shay Smith: Four tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss
- DT Elijah Fields: Two tackles, one sack
Up next
Michigan stays at home next week to begin the Big Ten portion of the 2026 schedule, as the Wolverines will host Iowa next Saturday.
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