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5 things we learned from Michigan football win over Maryland

By Chris Peterson

Nov 18, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (78) reacts after recording a sack against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (78) reacts after recording a sack against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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It wasn’t pretty but it didn’t have to be. Here are five things we learned from the Michigan football win over Maryland. 

For Michigan football, at this point, style points don’t matter. The Wolverines just need to win and that’s what they did on Saturday.

Beating 6-4, now 6-5 Maryland on the road isn’t overly impressive. Yet, going into the season, it was one of the games I expected to be difficult.

For one, it’s the week before Ohio State. It was also on the road and the Terrapins have talent, especially at quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa. Maryland gave the Buckeyes a battle and led Ohio State in the third quarter before things fell apart.

Maryland had its chances on Saturday too, including three chances to tie or take the lead on Michigan football in the second half.

In each instance, the defense held. At one point, it forced a safety on an intentional grounding. Blake Corum was able to salt away the win late, but it’s clear it wasn’t Michigan’s best game.

And no, it doesn’t have anything to do with signals, but everything to do with missing Jim Harbaugh.

Here’s what we learned.

Michigan football misses Jim Harbaugh

The Wolverines are 5-0 without Jim Harbaugh this season, so it’s not like they can’t win without him, but the offense especially hasn’t been the same without him.

Harbaugh has won a lot of games in his career. That’s because he’s a good coach. He knows how to coach quarterbacks and more than anything else, it removes the burden of being the head coach from Sherrone Moore.

Distractions have become a problem and it’s time for the NCAA to leave Michigan alone for at least a week or two. I’m not saying stop investigating, but it doesn’t need to be interviewing players during game week.

Michigan is allowed 90 days to respond to any NCAA allegations anyway. Do the investigation, but stop trying to hurt the players, just as the Big Ten did with the way it enacted the Harbaugh suspension.

Hopefully, the players can overcome this, but the fact that all this is happening for minor violations tells you all you need to know. This is about Jim Harbaugh and you have to give Ohio State credit, it’s worked better than anything they have done on the field against Michigan in years.

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