Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from Big Ten blowout of Maryland

2. The Michigan offense sputtered to victory

In the first half, Michigan only had 47 rushing yards against the Terrapins. It was hardly in character with what the Wolverines showed a week earlier in the rain against Notre Dame, when they ran the ball competently where the Fighting Irish struggled all day. In more pleasant conditions, Michigan lost their inclement-weather mojo.

Shea Patterson threw for only 113 yards on 7-of-11 passing through the first two quarters, as Michigan went three-and-out twice and also missed a field goal attempt late in the half. The quarterback didn’t need to be great in the end, as he finished the day with only 151 yards through the air and tossed one touchdown on 13-of-22 passing.

Michigan ultimately pulled away for a big victory on the road, but the defense did an incredible job of shutting down the Terrapins and keeping the offense in the game. If Maryland had played anything like the otherworldly offense that they brought to their first two games of the season, Michigan would have been ill-equipped to hang in a shootout.

That speaks to what Michigan is this year: a pretender at the highest level that is nevertheless a respectable if flawed hopeful among second-tier spoilers. It is by no means what Jim Harbaugh wanted or needed this year’s team to be, especially on that side of the ball, but at this point it is hard to escape that reality.