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‘Trap game?’ Michigan football stays mission-focused ahead of Maryland

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‘Trap game?’ Michigan football stays mission-focused ahead of Maryland


ANN ARBOR, Mich. — With a 10-0 record and winner-take-all Big Ten showdown with Ohio State set for next week, it’d be understandable if Michigan players were peering ahead.

The third-ranked Wolverines enter Saturday’s game at Maryland (Noon, FOX) as 20-point favorites in the eyes of oddsmakers, an appropriate line when you consider past results. Six of the last seven meetings between the two teams, all wins for Michigan, have been decided by 21 points or more.

And given how well Michigan has played this year, beating its opponents by an average of 31.5 points per game, there’s little reason to believe things might change in College Park.

“I believe in the concept of a trap game if you allow it to be a trap game,” safety Quinten Johnson said Tuesday after practice. “I don’t look at Ohio State, I don’t look at the championship, I don’t look at the playoffs. I look at who we got Saturday, and it’s Maryland. I feel like if you’re chasing perfection within yourself, being the best version of yourself, the trap games don’t really matter.”

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Michigan is coming off an impressive, and emotional, 24-15 win over Penn State last Saturday. It was the first win over a ranked opponent this season, bolstering the team’s resume in the eyes of critics who questioned its success against subpar competition. And it came without its head coach, Jim Harbaugh, who was suspended by the Big Ten for the remainder of the regular season as punishment for the school violating the league’s sportsmanship policy.

More: Maryland coach calls Michigan allegations ‘not any of our business’

Harbaugh has now missed four games this season, and his status for Saturday’s game (and beyond) hinges on a court ruling on Friday.

“Trap game?,” defensive end Derrick Moore replied Tuesday. “We definitely can’t take them lightly. Because coming off the Penn State week and going into the Maryland week, we’ve got another big game. We’ve got to attack them and take them out the game so we don’t show nothing poorly nothing on film that Ohio can attack on film.”

Maryland is no slouch either, at least on the offensive stat sheet. The Terrapins (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) rank second in the Big Ten in passing offense, averaging 281 yards per game behind its playmaking quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, and third in total yards (396.5). Their 28.9 points per game ranks fourth in the league, behind only Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State.

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“I wouldn’t say dress rehearsal (for Ohio State), but the next-best threat because at the end of the day, Maryland is a very good passing attack,” Johnson said. “They deserve full credit, to be looked at in the top-echelon of passing attacks we’ll see throughout the year. It’s never overlooking one team to get to another, but using these teams as a stepping stone to get to where we’re playing to the best of our capabilities.”

Running back Donovan Edwards, coming off his most productive game of the season on the ground (10 carries, 52 yards, TD), echoed the words of his teammates. It was two years ago in a game against Maryland, also a tune-up before Michigan’s annual end-of-the-schedule showdown with Ohio State, caught 10 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. The performance was a breakout moment for Edwards, who quickly became a regular fixture of the Michigan offense after.

He says peaking ahead to the Buckeyes, who are also 10-0 and ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings (one spot ahead of Michigan), is not something the team is doing.

“It’s not hard at all. Because every single game since the beginning of the season, all we’ve been worried about is the next day,” Edwards said. “When today’s practice is over, we’re going to worry about tomorrow’s practice. And then Thursday and Friday, and come Saturday we’re going to vibe off how we practice throughout the week.

“And when Ohio State comes, Ohio State comes. We’re just going to keep preparing for each game the same way we did in Week 1.”

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On Monday, as Harbaugh answered questions on his suspension, the win over Penn State and what lie ahead, he spoke of his team’s mission this year, one built on “faith,” “speaking truth to power,” “playing for each other” and “taking care of business.”

That business, players have said, revolves around returning to the College Football Playoff and winning it all. And to get there, they figure, winning every game is a necessity.

“When the mission doesn’t change, it’s not that hard to stay focused,” offensive lineman La’Darius Henderson said. “We just want to win, and that’s what we intend to keep doing.”



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Michigan

WATCH: Everything Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith Said After Spartans’ Victory Over Purdue

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WATCH: Everything Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith Said After Spartans’ Victory Over Purdue


EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State finally picked up a win, its first one since Week 8 when it defeated Iowa at home.

While it may seem like the Spartans’ season has been on a decline, even with this win, Michigan State is still just a win away from earning a trip to a bowl game.

Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith discussed Friday’s win when he addressed the media after the game.

You can watch below:

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Below is a transcript from Smith’s opening statement:

Smith: “OK, well, obviously pleased to find a way to win a game. Kind of a tale of two halves; all of you that watched it offensively, defensively, first half, really pleased. I think we had four possessions in the first half. Had points on all four of them. Ended the ended the half with some points; we were feeling good there, but then it totally flipped in the second half. Credit to Purdue, whether it’s adjustments, things like that, but those guys battled for four quarters. And credit some to our defense, too. Early second half, we had gave up a couple of scores there but found a way [in the] fourth quarter to tighten things down, and to give up 17 points and have two turnovers defensively, that’s a solid effort. Offensively, again we got to play for four quarters. And we want to do that better. But found a way to win a game, got another open game with a lot to play for next week.”

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.



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Top Michigan in-state recruits of all time and how their careers went

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Top Michigan in-state recruits of all time and how their careers went


The Michigan Wolverines locked up the highest recruit in Michigan football history on Thursday evening with the commitment of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. He carries a ton of accolades to Ann Arbor, including the highest rated recruit in the state of Michigan’s football history on 247Sports.

From Benny Friedman, to Anthony Carter, to Brandon Graham and Aidan Hutchinson, there is a long list of Michigan football legends that came from the state of Michigan. As Underwood gets settled into Ann Arbor in the near future, we take a look at some of the top Michigan in-state recruits of all time and how their careers went.

1. Charles Rogers – WR – Class of 2000

Before Underwood, the top-rated high school player to come out of the state of Michigan was wide receiver Charles Rogers. Rogers went to Saginaw High School and had a 0.9988 rating.

Rogers went to Michigan State and cemented himself as one of the best college wide receivers of all time. From 2000-02, Rogers broke the school record for most touchdowns in a career with 27, breaking the record held by former Spartans wide receiver and baseball legend Kirk Gibson, as well as the school record for most receiving yards in a single game with 270. He also broke Randy Moss’ NCAA record of 13 consecutive games with a touchdown catch

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During Rogers’ junior season, he put up 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns, winning the Biletnikoff Award and Paul Warfield Trophy as the season’s outstanding college football receiver. He was a unanimous All-American.

The Detroit Lions drafted Rogers No. 2 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. While his NFL career was known by many as an extreme let-down, Rogers will forever be remembered as an all-time great Spartan.

2. Dante Moore – QB – Class of 2023

Dante Moore is still waiting for his career to blossom. Moore attended Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, where he earned a 0.9980 rating as the No. 4 player in the 2023 class. He went to UCLA, but had a rough first season with 1,610 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Moore entered the transfer portal and is now with the Oregon Ducks, sitting behind Dillon Gabriel this season. He is expected to take the reins next year for Dan Lanning’s offense. Moore’s career is still young, but he was another example of the growing pains that come with starting a true freshman quarterback.

3. LaMarr Woodley – LB – Class of 2003

LaMarr Woodley was the highest in-state recruit to commit to Michigan before Underwood, earning a 0.9972 rating out of Saginaw High School in 2003. Woodley was named a captain in 2006 and he broke out for the Wolverines. Woodley collected 12 sacks as a senior and won the Lombardi Award as the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the country. His 12 sacks led the Big Ten and was eighth in the nation. After his senior season, Woodley was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a unanimous All-American.

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After his Michigan career, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Woodley with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Woodley played in 110 NFL games, making 58 sacks, 229 solo tackles and nine forced fumbles. WooHeley played for the Steelers from 2007-2013, the Oakland Raiders in 2014, and finished his career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015.

4. Kelly Baraka – RB – Class of 2001

There were many success stories on this list, but running back Kelly Baraka was the one outlier. Baraka was a consensus five-star from Portage Northern High School. With a 0.9940 rating, he was supposed to be the next great running back to play at Michigan…but that never happened.

The former high school All-American was arrested twice for marijuana possession before his freshman year and was suspended for the season by then-head coach Lloyd Carr. Still, he was set to return for the 2002 season and bring a style of speed Michigan hadn’t seen in the backfield since Tyrone Wheatley. That never happened, though, and Carr eventually kicked him off the team because of his off-field issues.

5. Brandon Graham – ILB – Class of 2006

Brandon Graham had all the accolades in the world coming into his freshman year at Michigan. At Crockett Vocation Tech in Detroit, Graham was named to the USA Today All-America first team, and was the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year. He had a 0.9930 rating as a five-star. Graham became the first player from the state of Michigan to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Graham had a dominant career at Michigan. Graham became the first defensive player in school history to be voted Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player twice (2008, 2009), he shared the 2009 Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten’s MVP, and he was named to the 2008 All-Big Ten second team and 2009 All-Big Ten first team.

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In four seasons in Ann Arbor, Graham posted 138 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, 29.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups. His 56 TFLs and 29.5 sacks rank second in Michigan history, and he is tied for second at Michigan in career forced fumbles.

After an outstanding career with the Wolverines, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Graham 13th overall in the 2010 draft. Graham is still playing at a high level for the Eagles 14 years later, and he has 2.5 sacks in 2024 at 36 years old.



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LOOK: Valiant, Bryce Underwood launch merchandise shop for Michigan Football fans

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LOOK: Valiant, Bryce Underwood launch merchandise shop for Michigan Football fans


Michigan landed the biggest fish of them all on Thursday night when Bryce Underwood stunned the world when he announced he was flipping his commitment from LSU to the Wolverines. It sent shockwaves around the country and Michigan is trending for several key recruits who might come into the fold with Underwood staying home.

But for those pessimistic fans — or rival fans clinging to hope he doesn’t come to Michigan — it appears the deal is as good as done. Valiant and Underwood revealed a new ‘Bryce Underwood Shop’ where fans will be able to preorder Underwood merchandise as soon as he signs his Letter of Intent on December 4.

There are currently four options to choose from. You will be able to order a signed trading card, or a choice of two different T-shirts.

At the bottom, Underwood has a message to Michigan fans:

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Hey, I’m Bryce Underwood, a quarterback from Michigan, and I’m so pumped to take the next step in my football journey at the University of Michigan! During my high school career, I was lucky enough to lead my team to multiple state championships, and I’m proud of the records we set along the way. Football has always been my passion, and I’m grateful for the recognition and opportunities it’s brought me. Now, I can’t wait to represent the Maize and Blue and give everything I’ve got for this amazing program and its fans! 

This will be one hot shop when it opens on December 4.

– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –

WATCH: Bryce Underwood launches ‘Hometown Hero’ Michigan commitment video

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