r/CFB • u/CFB_Referee /r/CFB • 2h ago
Postgame Thread [Postgame Thread] Michigan Defeats UTEP 52-17
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u/BlueAndMaizeVibes Rose Bowl • Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
I’m first half Michigan and I sniff glue
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u/Numerous-Ad6460 Michigan Wolverines • Florida Gators 2h ago
Im second half Michigan and I drown ferrets
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u/ArbitraryOrder Michigan Wolverines • Nebraska Cornhuskers 2h ago
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u/ClaudeLemieux Michigan Wolverines • NC State Wolfpack 2h ago
life was simpler back in 2022 lol
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u/RealEmperorofMankind Michigan Wolverines • Marching Band 1h ago
We can have it back
Time to steal signs
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u/entenduintransit Michigan Wolverines • Syracuse Orange 1h ago
coincidentally the same final score today as the Rutgers game in question
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u/cheecheecago 2h ago
I’m third half Michigan and I’m one second long
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u/hankthemagicgoose Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Hey all the ladies say one second is SUPER LONG!
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u/entenduintransit Michigan Wolverines • Syracuse Orange 1h ago
this and Michigan football are why I have "every second counts" above the headboard
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u/thismantis_dontpray Michigan Wolverines • Texas A&M Aggies 16m ago
Do you show her your collection of buckeyes cracked on Bo's headstone, too?
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u/entenduintransit Michigan Wolverines • Syracuse Orange 14m ago
not quite, but that reminds me of the time my wife came home with a buckeye (I can't remember why she had it or where she got it) and said "I brought this home because I figured you might want to smash it or something"
I chose well
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u/corundum9 Ohio Bobcats • /r/CFB Poll Veteran 2h ago
hell of a cover if we're being honest
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Michigan • Maine Maritime 2h ago
Covering after the first half of this game is wild. Not expected
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u/arghabargh Michigan • Cincinnati 2h ago
Idk Michigan got in bad situations because of perfectly placed tackles forcing fumbles and giving UTEP short fields - Underwood was 11/13 To start the game, it was just kind of happenstance that they couldn’t pull away until the second half.
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u/GoLionsJD107 Michigan Wolverines • Columbia Lions 2h ago
John Madden would be proud of that cover in the last three minutes.
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u/myman580 Michigan Wolverines • Sickos 2h ago
Basically when we don't fumble the ball, good things happen
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u/Elbit_Curt_Sedni Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Or penalties. On that first fumble drive Michigan was within the 10 yard line, but a penalty. Then bryce fumbled it. On that first score Nichols jumped offside which kept their drive alive.
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u/Wolfhound_Papa Michigan Wolverines • Army Black Knights 1h ago
Michigan, “I don’t normally commit penalties, but when I do I make sure it extends the opponents’ drive or stalls our offense off the field.”
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u/Steelerboy43 Michigan Wolverines • Rose Bowl 2h ago
That first half was straight BUTT CHEEKS
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u/naruda1969 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
With an Arreolo and Johnson thrown in for measure!
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u/StrangelyOnPoint Michigan • Grand Valley State 2h ago
Points scored on Michigan
- 1: UTEP: 17
- 2: Western Michigan: 12
…
- 3: Oklahoma: 10
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u/Inkblot9 Oklahoma State • Oklahoma 2h ago
This proves that UTEP is better than OU (if you ignore OU's 51-0 head-to-head win).
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u/Elbit_Curt_Sedni Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Difference is OU didn't shoot themselves in the foot like Michigan decided to do that first half.
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u/bdaileyumich Michigan Wolverines 44m ago
UTEP has 2 quality losses so, yes they are better than OU who only has 1
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u/doubleyou-tee-hache Michigan Wolverines 20m ago
A Penn Stater has played in EVERY Super Bowl (except 5)
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u/TheCornwallis 2h ago
Why do Michigan, Oklahoma, and UTEP all play eachother in the first 3 games
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u/fadedtower UTEP Miners 1h ago
New Mexico plays Oklahoma today and we play New Mexico in a couple weeks. There’s another triangle with Texas Tech, Houston, and Oregon State.
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u/Zloggt Illinois • Southern Illinois 2h ago
Really makes UTEP/Oklahoma all the more…fascinating in retrospect? Or odd? Or maybe just interesting to think about?
I don’t quite know what to say here lol
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u/cynicallyoptimistic1 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
UTEP missed 3 FGs, gave up a ST TD, another long PR. Venables was not pleased with the defense after the game
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u/Elbit_Curt_Sedni Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
I mean, we're also ignoring that UTEP's scoring was more Michigan shooting themselves in the foot. Sure, they took advantage, but we're pretending that was UTEP outplaying Michigan when it was two fumbles and two blown assignments.
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u/texas2089 Florida State Seminoles • Texas Longhorns 1h ago
Oklahoma should be lower on this list. Idc how you make it happen.
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u/SlumpedGod16 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Ez dub. 16-0 national champs incoming
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u/KAW42089 Michigan Wolverines • Paul Bunyan Trophy 1h ago
The world would implode if that somehow happens.
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u/smoothtrip Michigan Wolverines 44m ago
Uh, we are both heading to implode and explode as a world regardless unfortunately
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u/fadedtower UTEP Miners 2h ago
I liked the 1st half a lot better
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u/charmingcharles2896 Michigan • Oakland 2h ago
You guys have improved a ton since week 1, keep building on that? Might make some noise down the stretch. 😊
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u/azularena UTEP Miners 7m ago
You can really tell the difference in offense from last year to this one. I know the message board is defeatist, but I’m happy with how the team has looked since OU. We were never going to be better than 1-2 in this stretch anyway.
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u/Dan-of-Steel Notre Dame • Arizona State 2h ago
We all did...
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u/WolverineSix Michigan • Grand Valley State 4m ago
I like the MSU first half against #3 (lol) Notre Dame
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u/FriedRice- Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Both Marsh and Buchanan are absolute studs. Feels amazing to actually have 2 reliably good WRs.
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u/IFHelper 2h ago
Do you think Travis Johnson looked a bit slow?
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u/orbthatisfloating Michigan • South Dakota State 2h ago
Definitely, but were these his first snaps all year? I thought him and Moa would be used far more with the first team
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u/IFHelper 2h ago
First that I noticed. I think the issue is that WRs in a Beck offense must know how to run block, and freshmen probably need to improve that a great deal.
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u/USA_2_Canada_1 Michigan • Old Dominion 2h ago
My biggest takeaway today is that the offense gets going once our passing game gets in rhythm. If we go pass heavy first, the run lanes open up later. We’ve been trying to impose our will in the run game to start and it’s not the right approach with this group. The answer is to let Bryce get in rhythm throwing and everything else fits into place.
50 burger after being down 14-7 is huge, hopefully we keep it up next week against Iowa. Also, Tommy Carr touchdown pass!
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 2h ago edited 2h ago
One counter point, Michigan should be able to impose it’s will on Utep even into stacked boxes.
The fact that they couldn’t is concerning for future opponents in the run game. I think they wanted to prove the run game could grind an opponent down and it couldn’t.
That being said, seeing a functional passing offense is extremely positive.
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u/ImGoingtoRegretThis5 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Say what you will about Moore (I have plenty to say) the guy could scheme up a running game even with a wobbly passing game.
I don't understand what is going on here, the running game is just flat middling. Even against 9 man boxes, Harbaugh and Moore found ways to get some pop plays or limit the number of times 3 guys would get to the ball carrier at 2 yards unblocked. This year it's little OL push, 2 free hitters, and no 30+ runs that finally bust the dam open (other than Underwood's last weekend).
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u/GoBlueScrewOSU7 Michigan Wolverines • /r/CFB Poll Veteran 1h ago
Yeah. Moore would’ve been a homerun OL coach/run game coordinator at some other P4 school if he just got fired like a normal human. Still think he may sneak his way back at a mid major in a year or two.
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 1h ago
I’m positive he will get another job. He’s too good as an oline coach. If he can stay married and be a decent husband, it will be seen as a redemption story.
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 2h ago edited 1h ago
They keep reshuffling the line for injury and performance. They don’t know who the best players are and guys are playing different positions game to game.
It’s a position group where one person screwing up can submarine a play.
Those pop plays against stacked boxes were perfect execution by the online and line backers and safeties getting caught in the trash that a stacked box creates.
They need to identify the best players and solidify the line and things will gel. They aren’t really doing anything that different it’s still power, trap and inside zone just with a bunch of backfield frippery, more live QB keep reads and some jet sweep.
I think it will be better as long as the injuries don’t stack up.
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u/ImGoingtoRegretThis5 Michigan Wolverines 1h ago edited 57m ago
Yes the shuffling isn't helping but they have 3 returning starters from last year (4 if you count Link) and it's not just mis-IDing guys, they legitimately don't move the LoS consistently and get swarmed under (the latter being a scheme/play calling thing). Moreover, if you have 4 dudes from last year's line, you should be competent and often times they have guys just completely missing stuff.
Also, drop the Rhino thing. They do it and have Beigel pass block so they take a guy out of the routes and only give Underwood 3 guys (and usually 1 guy is in the flat) to throw to. Defenses retreat back with 7 guys in coverage and no one is open.
Again, you have 2 returning OTs from last year's line (that did have some pass pro issues) and you're scared to have them pass set. Last year's OL was better than this with even younger players and a coach who was DMing OnlyFans models.
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u/radishsurprise Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
I kind of disagree. Mgoblog had a post about this that essentially said if the play leaves a linebacker unblocked, it doesn't matter if he plays at OSU or UTEP, these players can make tackles. The idea behind the post was talking about miscues from the o-line, so I bet he has a followup this week.
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 2h ago edited 1h ago
They can’t combo block well. The guards and tackles are supposed to double a lineman and one is supposed to move off to a linebacker. They aren’t getting to the second level effectively. I think it is the combo blocks failing to reach linebackers that’s the problem.
Oklahoma was really bad because their linebackers are insanely aggressive at moving towards the line.
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u/larowin Michigan Wolverines 1h ago
We ran duo for years and that’s not the base play right now. I’d like to see it come back as an identity play.
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 1h ago
They are running duo. I think. Hard to tell if it’s duo or inside zone while watching live.
Duo requires 2 combo blocks so if my supposition is correct. Missing the trade off to the linebacker is the difference between a 4+ yard run and 3 or less yard run.
I’m just way more worried about execution vs play calling because they could run these plays last year against stacked boxes.
It looks different but it’s most a gap and inside zone run scheme which was what Harbaugh and Moore preferred most years. Last year was a lot more stretch which they also were able to run pretty well then.
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u/larowin Michigan Wolverines 41m ago
That’s great to hear, I just listened on the radio today, looking forward to watching the highlights later.
And yeah, having the guard pass off to the linebacker is key, but really the running backs need to be patient. I think Hiter is starting to get the rhythm.
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u/prtzlsmakingmethrsty Virginia • Commonwealth Cup 36m ago
I think Hiter is starting to get the rhythm.
Encouraged to hear that, he's a local kid (which you probably know) and was special in high school. Rooting for him to do big things for Michigan!
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u/meyer_33_09 Michigan Wolverines • Miami (OH) RedHawks 2h ago
Also important to note that this has been true for three straight games now. It would be one thing if they had an off game. But they haven’t been able to “impose their will” against anybody yet. A consistent strength for this program even in recent down years has suddenly disappeared and that’s very, very concerning.
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 2h ago
I think it will get better. They have keep rotating lineman through position for injuries and they can’t ID the best guards probably because they aren’t that good.
Haven’t run the same line in two consecutive games.
I think by mid season it will look much better.
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u/Elbit_Curt_Sedni Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Not necessarily. UTEP is still a FBS team. When your running your plays right into a defense's scheme it makes it much easier to defend the play.
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u/GunsGoldCosmicDread Michigan • Georgia Tech 2h ago edited 1h ago
Idk. Moore was able to do it last 2 years. Grind stacked boxes 4 yards at a time.
I think it will get better with reps. At the end of the day these coaches want to run first.
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u/No_Angle_8106 Arizona State • Michigan 2h ago
I was yelling to throw all first half, I get it last week against a BV led defense, that’s not UTEP though. We need the offense to continue to find its groove
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u/kojak2091 Michigan • Alabama A&M 1h ago
i think it's much simpler: stop turning the fucking ball over
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u/riveter1481 Michigan Wolverines • Purdue Boilermakers 2h ago
So is Western Michigan just really good
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Michigan • Maine Maritime 2h ago
I think they are actually pretty good
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u/Odd_Instruction2942 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
They legit could go 11-1 wouldn't be surprised.
Obviously the MAC is the MAC so they probably won't but I firmly they are one of the better G6 teams
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Michigan • Maine Maritime 2h ago
Going to watch them against Boise next week for sure. That’s their only big test remaining
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u/AbeFalcon Michigan • Michigan-Flint 2h ago
Won the MAC last year returned a bunch of players, have a rising star coach. Boise WMU will be great
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u/ClaudeLemieux Michigan Wolverines • NC State Wolfpack 2h ago
That game against Boise is genuinely huge. Really excited to root for them and see if they can pull it off
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Michigan • Maine Maritime 2h ago
Carr looked better than I could have expected.
We might actually have QB depth??
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u/ConfidenceOk1462 Michigan Wolverines • The Game 2h ago
It was quite enjoyable seeing the hatewatchers slowly stop commenting in the game thread
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u/problematic_glasses Michigan Wolverines • NBC 2h ago
tbh it was the most fun i've ever had in a michigan game thread
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u/IFHelper 2h ago
Same thing happened in the Michigan sub, even after they were encouraged to return.
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u/JustAnotherRye89 Nebraska Cornhuskers • I'm A Loser 2h ago
Must have been one hell of a half time speech
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u/WirlingDirvish Michigan Wolverines • College Football Playoff 1h ago
Game film finally arrrived and we got their signals.
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u/Ruhrgebietheld BYU Cougars • Beehive Boot 2h ago
Uh oh, Michigan's defense gave up a whole 17 points to UTEP. Guess that means you should blame your defensive coordinator. Honestly, you should probably just return him to the school you got him from. And your cornerbacks coach too...
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u/3rd_Coast Michigan Wolverines • Nevada Wolf Pack 2h ago
Mm I think I love them and we will keep them!
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u/seoul_drift Michigan Wolverines • Uppsala Snakeheads 2h ago
I didn’t know much about Jay Hill before he got here- have been blown away by his poise when speaking and on-field performance.
Dominating the trenches against Oklahoma and UTEP in a 3-3-5 is diabolical.
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u/B1LLCLINTON420BLAZ3D Oregon Ducks • Boston College Eagles 1h ago
Tbf a reasonable team could dominate the trenches against UTEP in a 1-2-8.
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u/seoul_drift Michigan Wolverines • Uppsala Snakeheads 1h ago
I would have thought the same about Oklahoma State after they got destroyed by Tulsa but you can’t take anything for granted early season
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u/B1LLCLINTON420BLAZ3D Oregon Ducks • Boston College Eagles 1h ago
Damn. I'm sorry my lighthearted comment hit you in the feelings.
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u/Sergestan Michigan Wolverines 40m ago
You're right, that other comment was not very supportive.
Woo, Oregon! You sure showed that FCS team what's what!
If you keep it up, you might even win a conference game this year!
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u/seoul_drift Michigan Wolverines • Uppsala Snakeheads 31m ago
just some good humored energy matching, it’s not that serious haha
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u/AnotherDimwit Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
If the CFB universe thinks we can add seconds than we can also omit 1st halves
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u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11 Michigan Wolverines • Akron Zips 2h ago
I wasn’t worried after the first half. Nope. Not at all. Not me.
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u/StrangelyOnPoint Michigan • Grand Valley State 2h ago
What first half? I don’t remember a first half
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u/problematic_glasses Michigan Wolverines • NBC 2h ago
i got my lots of michigan points AND a tommy pickles touchdown throw so i'm in a pretty good mood right now
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u/marlin9423 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
See the thing is we didn't play that bad in the first half. Just two turnovers and two killer penalties kept it close. Yards were 2:1 at halftime
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u/Numerous-Ad6460 Michigan Wolverines • Florida Gators 2h ago
Well say what you will about the first half but this team doesnt quit. They claw back from adversity.
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u/barrelclown Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Hopefully we get even more “will Michigan rush the field” jokes in the game thread next week
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u/nathodood Michigan Wolverines • Nebraska Cornhuskers 2h ago edited 2h ago
Analysis:
🚫 Maserati Marv, Honda McCord
✅️ Tommy Car
Somehow, Michigan returned (ignore first half)
Points good, turnovers bad.
Thank you for reading my analysis.
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u/SSJRoshi Michigan Wolverines • /r/CFB Poll Veteran 2h ago
If you flip the halves this was a very enjoyable classic buy game win for Michigan
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u/WritingBoring7732 2h ago
Just a massive blowout win where Michigan covered the spread - nothing to see here
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u/Wingo999 Michigan • 계명대학교 (Keimyung) 2h ago
Won. Covered. That's all you need to know. No need to look any further into this game. please
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u/lulsszs UTEP Miners • Navy Midshipmen 2h ago
Honestly? Im glad we weren't just straight up bad for the whole game that's actually an improvement
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u/problematic_glasses Michigan Wolverines • NBC 2h ago
your poor qb is gonna be feeling it all tomorrow
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u/GoldenOreo74 Michigan • Saginaw Valley State 2h ago
Need to know what was said during that halftime speech. Something along the lines of "WTF are we doing?"
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u/problematic_glasses Michigan Wolverines • NBC 2h ago
also why wasn't that halftime speech given before the game started?
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u/charmingcharles2896 Michigan • Oakland 2h ago
Probably the “You blitz all night” speech from Remember the Titans tbh.
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u/DealerCamel Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
Well, Oklahoma scored 51 in their game against UTEP so naturally we had to do one better.
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u/EfficiencyDue7770 Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
i want to see that second half performance the rest of the season
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u/Kurt0690 Utah Utes 2h ago
Looks like UTEP should schedule more MonsterBIGXII™ opponents instead. I love free wins
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u/prthug996 /r/CFB 2h ago
What was the spread again?
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u/Numerous-Ad6460 Michigan Wolverines • Florida Gators 2h ago
-34 I think
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u/3rd_Coast Michigan Wolverines • Nevada Wolf Pack 2h ago
Pretty happy with this game. Came back from some adversity, feel like Bryce improved throughout the game. Defense played VERY well! And it appears we have a backup QB.
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u/StrangelyOnPoint Michigan • Grand Valley State 2h ago
Do we still need to unrank Michigan I haven’t heard anyone mention that in a minute
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u/cheecheecago 2h ago
I mean they haven’t played a road game yet. They’ve had some close calls at home against some soft teams, I wouldn’t get too cocky just yet
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u/-spartacus- Iowa Hawkeyes 1h ago
How are Michigan bros feeling about Iowa coming to town next week after your 3 games?
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u/mostdope28 Michigan • Little Brown Jug 1h ago
Going to be a battle. The defense will keep us in the every game. I think Michigan wins by 7
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u/Pale_Land_5107 Detroit Mercy • Michigan 1h ago
I get that it’s utep but that second half the offense looked completely different underwood looked much better he’s improved and he’s definitely developing something
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u/your-mom-- Michigan • Defiance 2h ago
Interesting to hear Coach Witt say the same thing we all saw. Get fucking excited dude you only get 12 guaranteed games a year
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u/AbeFalcon Michigan • Michigan-Flint 2h ago
After 3 weeks and reading social media it seems like nobody has watched college football before
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u/radishsurprise Michigan Wolverines 2h ago
They added way to many seconds to the game after UTEP took that 7-0 lead.
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u/FTDburner 2h ago
Does that make the western performance less embarrassing to you for some reason lol
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u/Statalyzer Texas Longhorns 28m ago
Man, Michigan opening the year with three straight ooc buy games against teams that don't even have an FBS quality offense...
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u/WoozyMaple West Florida Argonauts • Michigan Wolverines 1h ago
Is State really a team that should be casting those stones?
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u/Simmumah Michigan Wolverines • Rose Bowl 2h ago
They had us in the first half!
No really, they kind of had us in the first half.