Michigan had a chance to become bowl eligible with a win over Maryland, but another anemic offensive performance let Maryland escape Ann Arbor with a scrappy win.
Turning Point:
Michigan had the chance to take the lead (and the momentum) with the score tied 16-16 early in the 4th...but Matt Wile missed a 39-yard field goal, giving Maryland a short field and a chance to take the lead themselves. The Terps made no mistake, and the Wolverines were unable to move the chains on their next (and final) drive.
Stat of the Day:
Michigan outgained Maryland 398 yards to 312 and had 23 first downs to the Terps' 17...but the Wolverines were the team to pick up the loss.
Signs of Life?
It won't be easy for Michigan fans to look for a bright side after this one, but the team put together one of their best rushing performances in recent memory. Four players gained over 30 rushing yards as the Wolverines picked up 292 yards on the ground.
Keep An Eye On:
Sophomore RB Drake Johnson, who had 94 rushing yards on 14 carries to lead the Wolverines backfield. Johnson has seen his workload increase over the last few weeks, and with another 100-yard performance to go with his big day against Indiana, he's taking advantage.
What's Next?
5-5 going into today's game, Michigan needed this win to make themselves bowl-eligible...but now, they'll need a road win against Ohio State next weekend to make that happen. Maryland wasn't expected to do much of anything in their first Big 10 season, but the Terps now have road wins over Michigan and Penn State to go with a 4-3 conference record.
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