Michigan vs. Maryland score: No. 3 Wolverines grind out tough win over Terps ahead of Ohio State rivalry game

Michigan held off a solid Maryland effort in its second straight game without coach Jim Harbaugh

No. 3 Michigan survived a scare on the road, scraping out a 31-24 win over Maryland. Michigan's offense struggled to move the ball all day while providing Maryland with ample opportunity to take control, but the Terrapins were never able to get the touchdown they needed to take the lead.

Maryland struck first, taking a 3-0 lead on the game's opening possession, but Michigan responded immediately with a touchdown drive of its own to take a 7-3 lead. After taking a 23-10 lead into the locker room at halftime, Maryland opened the second half with a touchdown drive to cut the lead to a touchdown. The Terps followed it up by forcing a three-and-out on defense to get the ball back, but an Taulia Tagovailoa interception quickly snuffed out the momentum.

It was a familiar theme for Maryland. The defense would get a stop, and Tagovailoa would make a mistake. He threw another interception in the fourth quarter and committed an intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety as well.

That proved to be the final nail in Maryland's coffin as the Wolverines converted a fourth-and-1 on the final possession of the game that allowed them to run out the rest of the clock.

• This was the 1,000th win in program history for Michigan. It's the first school to reach that milestone. 
• Michigan's 291 yards of offense was its second-lowest output of the season. The lowest was 287 yards last week against Penn State.
• Michigan averaged only 3.5 yards per carry on the ground.
• Blake Corum scored his 20th rushing touchdown of the season, tying Michigan's single-season record.
• Michigan scored in all three phases of the game in the first quarter, with a touchdown run on offense, a fumble return on defense and a blocked punt for a safety on special teams.
• Tagovailoa turned the ball over three times. It's the fifth time he's finished a game with multiple turnovers this year.
  

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:46 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

FINAL: Michigan 31, Maryland 24

The Wolverines survive a scare.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:41 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan converts on fourth down

The Wolverines take a chance by going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Maryland 38, and Blake Corum gets just enough to move the chains. It's a first down for the Wolverines with 1:53 left and the Terps have only one timeout.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:36 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Taulia what are you doing!?

Taulia throws the ball away when he can't find anybody open, but there's one problem. He doesn't throw the ball near a receiver. And he's standing in the end zone when he does so.

Intentional grounding.

In the end zone.

Safety.

It's 31-24 Michigan.

Maryland attempts an onside following the safety, but Michigan recovers at the Maryland 47. There's 3:36 left, and the Terps have two timeouts. A first down effectively ends the game.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:32 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Maryland's defense is doing its job

They force another stop, but Michigan's Tommy Doman's punt is perfect. It's downed at the one. Maryland will have to go 99 yards in 4:10 with two timeouts if they want the TD they need to win this game. Also, they'll have to do so with the wind howling in their face.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:27 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Taulia picked off again

And there's the bad throw I mentioned earlier. Taulia, for no reason at all, chucks up a prayer and opes for the best. Instead he gets Mike Sainristril for the second time today. Michigan has the ball back at the Maryland 38 with 5:32 left.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:26 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Kenneth Grant is an athletic freak

Last week he ran down a receiver in the open field. This week he's doing stuff like this. Guys this size shouldn't be allowed to move like this.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:20 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Three and out!

Michigan takes a shot on first down, and it's there, but they don't convert. JJ McCarthy has a wide open Cornelius Johnson down the middle of the field, but the throw is slightly behind Johnson and he can't reel it in. Wolverines fail to pick up the first down and punt.

It's Maryland ball at the 10-yard line with 7:05 to play in a five-point game.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:16 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan holds

The Terps can't take advantage of the stop. They get in third-and-8, but a false start puts them into a third-and-13, and the Wolverines bring pressure and get home. Mason Graham sacks Tagovailoa for a 10-yard loss. It's Michigan's third sack of the day.

Compounding matters is a terrible punt from Maryland's Brenden Segovia. The 31-yard boot gives the Wolverines the ball at the Maryland 49 to start the drive with 8:37 left. The Terps defense needs to make a play to get the ball back quickly.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 3:06 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Maryland gets a stop

The Wolverines are down a couple players on the offensive line, and Maryland is taking full advantage of it. Inexperience leads to free blitzers.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 2:59 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

END 3RD: Michigan 29, Maryland 24

Call your friends! Call your neighbors! Hell, get Connor Stalions on the phone, you know, assuming he isn't already watching the game through your window. Michigan might be in trouble!

The Wolverines are in the midst of their toughest test of the season, leading Maryland by only five points after three quarters in College Park. Michigan led 23-10 at halftime, but Maryland opened the second half with a touchdown drive to cut the lead to 23-17. It then forced a three-and-out and momentum seemed to have flipped.

Then disaster struck. Taulia Tagovailoa threw an interception, and a few minutes later Michigan was back up two scores, but the Terps did not cave. They responded with another touchdown drive to cut the lead back to five, and now we enter the final 15 minutes with the Wolverines trying to avoid disaster.

Will the Big Ten title race and College Football Playoff picture be turned on its head today, or will the Wolverines survive and advance? 

[Nov 18, 2023 at 2:54 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

The Terps ain't heard no bell

I'm not sure there's a QB in the country with a wider disparity between their best throws and their worst throws than Taulia Tagovailoa. One minute he's making the worst decision you've ever seen that leads you to question what you're doing with your life watching this sport, and the next play he's throwing a dime that bring an absolute tear to your eye.

Taulia hits a beatiful wheel route down the right sideline, and on the next play drops a beautiful ball in the bucket down the left sideline to Kaden Prather to set up a first-and-goal. Two plays later the Terps hit paydirt. It's 29-24 with 16 seconds left in the third.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 2:46 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

The upset alert could be off

With windy conditions in College Park, Michigan chooses to go for it on fourth-and-3 instead of kick a 43-yard field goal, and the decision pays off. Not only do the Wolverines convert the first down, but Semaj Morgan scores on a 13-yard run on the next play to extend Michigan's lead late in the third.

Michigan's two-point attempt is no good, though, so it's 29-17 instead of 31-17.

This is what happens against a team like Michigan. If they leave the door slightly ajar you have to kick it down and play perfect. If you make a mistake like the one Taulia Tagovailoa did, the door slams shut quick. This game isn't over yet, but Maryland's shot at pulling off the upset just got a lot smaller.

[Nov 18, 2023 at 2:37 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Maryland blows a prime chance

Maryland has already scored more points against Michigan than any other team this season, and with their defense stymying the Wolverines offense in the second half, the Terps had a shot to take the lead. Unfortunately for them, Taulia Tagovailoa turned the ball over for the second time today, and a Mike Sainristil interception gives the Wolverines the ball in Maryland territory.