Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from Big Ten blowout of Maryland

Though it didn’t get the shutout, Michigan football blew away Maryland on Saturday in College Park. What did we learn about the Wolverines in Week 10?

From the opening kickoff, Michigan came out punching. True freshman Giles Jackson fielded the ball from Maryland kicker Joseph Petrino at his own 3-yard line, then cut to his right and found wide-open lanes from a slew of motivated blockers. Beating Petrino as the Terrapins’ last line of defense, Jackson darted along the sideline 97 yards for the first touchdown of the game just 11 seconds into the contest.

It was the start of a huge rout on the road for the Wolverines. Michigan, fresh off their takedown of Notre Dame in Week 9, asserted their presence in the national race ahead of the release of the first College Football Playoff selection committee rankings of the season in a 38-7 victory in College Park early on Saturday afternoon.

Buoyed by a phenomenal effort on special teams, the Wolverines improved to 7-2 and kept alive slim hopes of a path to the Big Ten title game. Even if they fail to earn a trip to Indianapolis, though, a New Year’s Six berth is still in play for Jim Harbaugh’s crew as they proceed into November play.

What did we learn about Michigan in their Week 10 beatdown of Maryland away from the Big House? Here are three things to take away from the mismatch on the road against the Terps as both teams head in opposite directions in the Big Ten East race.