After a more difficult game than anticipated against Western Michigan and a hard-fought win over Oklahoma last week, the Wolverines will be back in Big House Week 3 with UTEP as the opponent.
The Miners are 1-1 on the season. They opened the 2026 campaign with a 51-0 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma. UTEP followed that up with a 51-10 win over Texas Southern, of the FCS.
Michigan is a heavy favorite in this matchup for obvious reasons. It defeated the team that just defeated the Miners by 51. Head coach Scotty Walden's team won just two games last season. The Miners run a spread offense and use mostly a 3-3-5 defense.
Michigan football is a 34.5-point favorite and here are three bold predictions.
Michigan runs for over 200 yards
Through two games, the Wolverines are averaging 129 yards per game on the ground. Gaining 152 rushing yards against Oklahoma is no joke. The Sooners were one of the best defenses in college football last season, and they will be again in 2026.
Bryce Underwood had to do most of the heavy lifting. The fact that he ran so well is a great sign for the rest of the season. However, the Wolverines need to get Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter going.
The tandem has combined for 97 rushing yards on 35 attempts. Part of that was Oklahoma doing crazy things, and Hiter, on a couple of different occasions, holding on to the ball too hard, not allowing Underwood to pull it. That led to a five-yard loss on one play.
The running game did look better last week. Michigan was close to hitting some big plays. This week, Marshall will run for over 100 yards. Hiter will have at least one run over 20, and Michigan will get over 200 with Bryce carrying the ball fewer than five times.
Andrew Marsh has 100 yards receiving and a touchdown
The Michigan football coaching staff knows that it needs to get Andrew Marsh involved. He's got five receptions for 29 yards. The dude is an All-Big Ten caliber receiver.
The Wolverines have two now since JJ Buchanan has actually exceeded expectations. He is a DUDE. Marsh is, too, though. He had 647 receiving yards as a true freshman. Most of them came during Big Ten play because he wasn't involved in the offense much during the first three games.
UTEP allows just 3.6 yards per rushing attempt. If you're the Miners, selling out to stop the run, and forcing Underwood to beat you over the top seems to be the way to go about things. Maybe he will have another rough game like he did against Western Michigan.
The caliber of defense is worlds different, though. Underwood should have a running game, should have time to throw, and should rekindle his connection with Marsh this week.
No touchdowns
After holding Western Michigan without a touchdown, the Wolverines limited Oklahoma to just one. If there wasn't a personal foul penality on Jyaire Hill, the Sooners might have not have gotten that one.
Michigan's secondary is too good. UTEP quarterback EJ Colson threw four touchdown passes and had a touchdown run last week. He's averaging 11.7 yards per pass attempt, which is first in the Mountain West.
UTEP is averaging 5.1 yards per rushing attempt. The QB is dangerous. He can run. UTEP will do some interesting things, too. Their head coach knows what he's doing. They just don't have the talent.
Michigan's defensive line will dominate. Even the backups are going to eat. This defense is deep. There will be some scores. I don't see there being a shutout, but the Wolverines will keep their opponent out of the end zone for the second time in three games.
Score prediction: Michigan 41, UTEP 6.
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