Here are five hot topics being talked about after the game.
Michigan jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and rolled to its third straight win on Saturday, downing Maryland 35-10 at Maryland Stadium.
The Wolverines, despite being outgained on offense 340 yards to 305, improve to 8-2 and 5-2 in the Big Ten, while the Terrapins fall to 4-6 and 2-5.
Here are five hot topics being talked about after the game:
1. Karan Higdon leaves the game
The Wolverines already were short at running back heading into Saturday, with senior Ty Isaac missing his second straight game. The Wolverines depth took another hit in the second quarter when leading rusher Karan Higdon left the game with an ankle injury. He did not return.
Sophomore Chris Evans took over as the lead back, while redshirt freshman Kareem Walker also received a handful of carries, rushing for 23 yards on seven attempts.
Michigan, which rushed for more than 330 yards in each of its past two games, averaged 4.2 yards per carry on Saturday, totaling 160 yards.
Higdon’s absence didn’t have a major effect on the outcome on Saturday, but if he cannot return next week against Wisconsin, that would be a major blow for the Wolverines.
2: Brandon Peters‘ first road start
Similar to last week, Peters wasn’t asked to do much against Maryland. He attempted 18 passes, completing nine for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He was able to make the simple throws but struggled on passes 10 yards or more downfield.
Most notably, though, he didn’t turn the ball over in his third straight game – something that Wilton Speight and John O’Korn had an issue with earlier this season.
3: Lack of production from receivers
Michigan hasn’t had much production from its receivers all season, which proved to be the case again against Maryland. Eddie McDoom was the only wideout to catch a pass, and it went for just 2 yards.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines‘ tight ends and running backs were active in the passing game.
Junior tight end Zach Gentry had one catch in his previous three games entering Saturday, but he was Peters‘ top target on Saturday. He had three catches – all in the first half — for 63 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown. Sophomore tight end Sean McKeon also caught a 2-yard touchdown pass.
Evans and Higdon combined for four receptions for 77 yards.
4. Quinn Nordin misses another field goal
Jim Harbaugh’s frustrations with kicker Quinn Nordin boiled over in the second quarter after the redshirt freshman missed his third straight field goal. In his last four games, Nordin has missed all three field goal attempts and two extra points.
He missed Saturday’s wide-right, and was seen arguing with Harbaugh on the sideline afterwards. Harbaugh said earlier this week Nordin’s struggles can be attributed to a timing issue, but it is becoming a major concern with two big games coming up against Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Quinn Nordin back talks Jim Harbaugh after missing a field goal… not a good move. pic.twitter.com/rMMplqYV52
No. 5: Big Ten title hopes still alive
Michigan State was blown out by Ohio State 48-3 on Saturday, giving the Spartans two losses in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are the lone Big Ten East team with one conference loss, but the Wolverines would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker if they beat Wisconsin next week and OSU on Nov. 25.
However, Michigan also would need MSU and Penn State to each lose one more game, which appears unlikely. The Spartans host Maryland next week before traveling to Rutgers (4-6,3-4) on Nov. 25, while the Nittany Lions host Nebraska (4-6,3-4) before ending the regular season on the road against the Terrapins.
