Michigan Wolverines finally get exactly what they need on offense as Bryce Underwood and company look ahead to Ohio State game

Andrew Marsh, Donaven McCulley and Michigan passing game from Bryce Underwood finally shines in massive win over Maryland Terrapins

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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The Michigan Wolverines are now 9-2 after easily taking down the Maryland Terrapins 45-20 on Saturday. Sherrone Moore and his team have been figuring out ways to win despite major injuries and a complete lack of explosiveness on offense this season through the air.

Quarterback Bryce Underwood and the Michigan offense was always going to have to find another gear to their game if they were going to compete against this season’s Ohio State Buckeyes. That’s exactly what they finally did on Saturday.

Michigan Wolverines finally find their explosive passing game

  • The Michigan Wolverines entered the Maryland Terrapins matchup ranked 64th in pass plays of 20 or more yards among FBS teams, 94th on pass plays of 30+ yards
  • Bryce Underwood connected with four different players for five plays of 20+ yards on just 16 completions in Saturday’s win over Maryland
  • Andrew Marsh took the Big Ten lead in receiving yards since October 1st

Michigan Wolverines and Bryce Underwood finally create some explosive passing plays

The Michigan offense has been a rough watch for much of this season. Justice Haynes or Jordan Marshall break off explosive runs here and there (when healthy). Andrew Marsh has emerged as an extremely impressive receiving weapon, but he can’t do everything alone. However, on Saturday, the Wolverines clearly began to click on all cylinders in the passing game, which is exactly what they need to do if they’re going to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes and potentially earn a trip to the College Football Playoff.

The 45-20 win for Michigan began as many usually do with a dominant showing from the ground game, but then the offense opened up with creative explosives through the air. Underwood found Andrew Marsh deep up the right sideline for 25 yards on the Wolverines’ second drive. Then he hit tight end Zack Marshall for 20 yards deep down the middle just two plays later. And it wasn’t just explosive plays deep down field either. Michigan hit Donaven McCulley on a quick screen with strong blocking on the very next drive and he took it to the house for 22-yard touchdown (in post below).

The passing offense was just absolutely spectacular throughout the game as Bryce Underwood began by completing 16 of his first 20 passes (80% completion rate). Even when the team wasn’t creating huge plays of 20+ yards the Michigan passing offense was still impressive. Seven different players got involved through the air on just 16 completions. Andrew Marsh kept on racking up the stats as he and Bryce Underwood connected for the best play of the day on a 12-yard touchdown (as you can see in the post below).

Marsh now leads the Big Ten in receiving yards since October 1st. He caught five receptions for 76 yards and that touchdown Saturday, bringing his totals to 41 receptions, 535 yards, and three receiving scores since the start of October. That’s more receiving yards than USC’s Makai Lemon and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith in that span. Just wild production from the true freshman wide receiver.

The Michigan Wolverines still need to get fully healthy and the running game has to keep up their dominance too, but it’s great to see the Michigan offense finally looking like a complete unit. Bryce Underwood is playing his best football at quarterback. Andrew Marsh and the entire skill position group of pass catchers are finally emerging together. Michigan still won’t be favored against Ohio State in The Game, but that hasn’t stopped them here recently.

We’ll be back with more Michigan Wolverines coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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