COLLEGE PARK, Md. — On Nov. 22, 2024, Michigan football flipped Bryce Underwood from LSU in one of the biggest recruiting pulls in the history of the program.
Three-hundred-sixty-five days later, Underwood had perhaps the best day of his Michigan career, completing 16 of 23 passes for 215 yards and two passing touchdowns to lead Michigan to a 45-20 victory over Maryland as the Wolverines kept their Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff hopes thriving.
U-M was down its top two running backs – Justice Haynes (foot) and Jordan Marshall (shoulder) – and had to turn former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal, who had the game of his career. The two-star recruit from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern ran 20 times for 100 yards and three scores.
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Even true freshman Jasper Parker found his way into the endzone in the fourth quarter.
It was impressive for backup running backs to have so much success, but the story on offense was U-M’s passing game moving well for a second straight week. Freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh led the way with five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown while Donaven McCulley had two grabs for 46 yards and an impressive slicing score of his own.
The Wolverines also got the tight ends involved more with Marlin Klein, Zack Marshall and Max Bredeson combining for six receptions for 74 yards. It’s a promising sign given what’s next – though Bredeson did leave the game with an injury and was seen on the sideline in a boot.
Michigan remains very much in the CFP discussion and even has a shot to play for the Big Ten championship. Either one – or both – can only happen with a victory in The Game vs. Ohio State next Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Third-down clinic
Michigan has drastically improved its third-down efficiency in recent weeks and did well again vs. the Terps, converting 11 of 12 before the reserves entered in the fourth quarter. U-M was constantly in third-and-manageable situations and converted its first seven third downs of the day, and eight of nine in the first half.
Only two of the tries were longer than third-and-4 while Michigan found myriad ways to move the chains, eight on the ground and three through the air. Even on the rare occasion U-M appeared stopped – such as on third-and-9 midway through the third quarter – the Terps were flagged for roughing the passer to give the Wolverines a free set of downs. Later, it was an offsides on third down.
Michigan finished that possession with a 1-yard Kuzdzal touchdown rush.
Game-changing plays early
Four plays in the first half put the game out of reach. The first came after Maryland scored on its opening drive; Maryland coach Mike Locksley tried to catch U-M off guard with an onside kick, only for freshman Chase Taylor to recover at the Maryland 47. U-M tied the game with a 12-yard strike from Underwood to Marsh soon after.
On U-M’s next possession, Underwood nearly delivered a pick-six, throwing to Donaven McCulley across his body, but the Terps DB dropped the pass. Michigan capitalized on the gift and finished a 12-play, 83-yard drive on a 3-yard Kuzdzal touchdown plunge.
On Maryland’s ensuing possession, a Malik Washington pass in the same spot on the field was tipped by his wide receiver and into the arms of Mason Curtis, who did not drop it, returning it inside U-M’s 25. Four plays later, Underwood found McCulley on a tunnel screen on third-and-9 and he raced through the D for a 22-yard touchdown
After Maryland cut the lead to 11, Kuzdzal appeared to fumble the ball with less than seven minutes in the half, but his elbow was down instead. Michigan didn’t score, but Maryland didn’t get to take over on the U-M 30 as it appeared.
Defense does its thing
Washington had been sacked three times all season. The Wolverines sacked him three times before the fourth quarter Saturday. That included a sack on third-and-goal from Jaishawn Barham, who transferred from College Park three years ago, to force a field goal in the second quarter. The other two sacks came from Tre Williams, who went to high school at nearby St. John’s College in Washington, and Derrick Moore, who grew up in Baltimore.
Zeke Berry also had a nice pass breakup on a deep ball early in the first half.
Next up for the Wolverines
It’s finally here, as the game circled on the calendar in Ann Arbor and Columbus arrives in the last weekend of November: Ohio State at Michigan Stadium next Saturday (noon, Fox). The Wolverines have won four straight in the rivalry against Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, their longest streak against OSU since a four-gamer from 1988-91 (part of a six-game unbeaten streak). Michigan hasn’t won five straight against Ohio State since 1922-27, when the Wolverines took six straight by a combined score of 106-22 (with four shutouts).
The Buckeyes remained unbeaten this season with a 42-9 thumping of Ohio State, even without star wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. OSU led just 14-3 at the half but pulled away with four TDs in the second half, as running back Bo Jackson picked up 110 yards on 19 carries.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football runs over Maryland as Bryson Kuzdzal has 3 TDs
