Postgame Notes: #19 Michigan 52, UTEP 17
9/19/2026 7:44:00 PM | Football
• Today's game marked the 332nd consecutive crowd of 100,000-plus in attendance at Michigan Stadium (110,668).
• Michigan improved to 3-0 with today's victory over UTEP in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Wolverines have wins over two teams that recorded 10-plus victories last season.
• Michigan finished nonconference play unbeaten for the first time since 2023 and the fourth time in the last six seasons. In the 20 years that Kyle Whittingham's Utah teams played at least two nonconference games (excluding 2020), the Utes had a perfect nonconference schedule 11 times (2008, 2013-19, 2023-25; does not include postseason).
• The win marks Whittingham's 180th as an FBS head coach. Only Iowa's Kirk Ferentz (215 wins before Week 3) and Clemson's Dabo Swinney (188 before Week 3) have more among active FBS head coaches.
• Offensively, Michigan scored a season-high 52 points, totaled 431 yards of offense and converted 9-of-13 third-down attempts and both of its fourth-down tries.
• After UTEP took a 14-7 lead with 5:58 remaining in the second quarter, the Wolverines outgained the Miners 308-28 the rest of the way.
• Michigan has scored 11 offensive touchdowns this season -- six rushing and five passing. U-M found the end zone three times through the air and three times on the ground against UTEP.
• Michigan's 28 third-quarter points were its most in the quarter since scoring 28 against Rutgers (Nov. 5, 2022).
• Quarterback Bryce Underwood had his most efficient game of the season, completing 19-of-25 passes for 223 yards.
• Freshman Savion Hiter struck first for the Wolverines, scoring his first career touchdown on a six-yard rush and becoming the third different Wolverine to score on the ground this season. Hiter added his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter.
• Hiter led U-M in rushing for the first time in his career, setting career highs in yards (62) and carries (11).
• Jordan Marshall's third-quarter rushing touchdown was his second of the season.
• JJ Buchanan concluded a 75-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown reception in the final two minutes of the first half. The score was his second of the season.
• Andrew Marsh recorded season highs with 10 receptions and 105 receiving yards. In the first half, he caught eight passes for 68 yards. His 34-yard touchdown in the third quarter was his first of the season and the second-longest scoring play for the Wolverines this year.
• Marsh's 105-yard performance marked the second 100-plus-yard receiving effort by a Wolverine this season (Buchanan, 126 vs. Western Michigan).
• Freshman quarterback Tommy Carr threw his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 19-yard toss to Salesi Moa, who also recorded his first career touchdown.
• Freshman Travis Johnson made his first career reception on fourth-and-four, moving the chains for U-M.
• After scoring twice in the first half, UTEP managed just a field goal after halftime. Michigan's defense held the Miners to a 2-of-12 third-down conversion rate.
• Jonah Lea'ea recorded his first career interception and returned it nine yards for a touchdown. It marked Michigan's first interception return for a touchdown since Will Johnson against USC (Sept. 21, 2024).
• Benny Patterson III contributed his first career stop for the Wolverines, a shared tackle for loss.
• In his first extended action at linebacker, Max Alford recorded a fourth-quarter sack, his first as a Wolverine. Alford had one career sack in 28 games at BYU and Utah State.
• Trey Butkowski converted a 49-yard field goal to put the Wolverines in the lead as the first half came to a close. The kick marked a career long, surpassing his previous best of 47 yards against Boston College (Oct. 4, 2025) while at Pitt.
• First-year wide receiver Salesi Moa made his first career start, as did cornerback Shamari Earls. Moa is the sixth Wolverine and Earls the seventh to make his first-ever start this season. Moa is the lone freshman to have started a game.
• Other players to earn their first career starts this season include tight end Jalen Hoffman, linebackers Troy Bowles and Chase Taylor and defensive end Dom Nichols against Western Michigan, as well as tight end Eli Owens against Oklahoma.
• Tommy Carr, Markel Dabney, Carter Meadows, Ernest Nunley and Jimmy Pisani made their collegiate debuts for U-M in today's game.
