The Michigan Wolverines (1-1) host the Arkansas State Red Wolves (2-0) on September 14 on the Big Ten Network. The Wolverines look to bounce back from the beatdown they received from Texas last week. Meanwhile, Arkansas State will look to complete their most significant upset in school history. This will be the first meeting between Michigan and Arkansas State.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves – Pregame Quotes
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore will prepare the team for a big bounce-back week. He has this to say about overcoming the loss.
“We always talk about a 24-hour rule and we’ve been fortunate where that 24-hour rule has just been wins. So now the 24-hour rule applies to a loss and you gotta get over it,” began Moore.
“You know, we gotta learn from it though. We can’t let failure be our undertaker and we have to make sure we continue to push forward and have some fortitude and strength to get better, which our guys have already been in here watching the film.”
Moore wants his players to be ready, and to know that this loss isn’t the end of season. When a team hasn’t lost in a long time, especially at home, it is going to hurt. However, they can’t let that loss derail the season.
Moore also had a lot of good things to stay about, such as making adjustments on the offensive line and the secondary, both positions groups that struggled the most against Texas.
On the other side of things, Arkansas State head coach, Butch Jones, didn’t seem confident about the matchup against Michigan.
“We have to get a lot better in a hurry … Maybe the things that we’ve gotten away with — with the lack of ball security, our ball carrying technique, protecting the quarterback, the ability to impact the quarterback on defense, taking the ball [away] — the competition now increases,” stated Jones.
“Michigan is a really, really good football team that will expose you if you’re not fundamentally sound, if you don’t take care of the football.”
Jones needs his players to be ready for a huge road test. Yet at the end of the day, Jones feels that if his team can execute the fundamentals, they can stay in this game for a long time.
Key Players for Michigan
Quarterback play will be at the forefront of focus for Michigan Wolverines fans. Davis Warren has to play better and create more explosiveness. Alex Orji also needs to be better in the run game, although many of his struggles against Texas can be attributed to a struggling offensive line.
This should also be the game the running game can get back on track, and Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings should have big days.
Meanwhile, Colston Loveland has to play like the best tight end in the country again due to the lack of production from the wide receivers. If he can’t do that, Michigan may have a long day.
Defensively, the defensive line and linebackers need to be better. They were manhandled by the Texas offensive line, and the linebackers were consistently getting washed out in the run game and missing tackles.
Better performances from Josiah Stewart, Ernest Hausman, and Jaishawn Barham are necessary to win this game and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The secondary relies heavily on Will Johnson as the only true shutdown corner on the team. Players like Jyaire Hill, Makari Paige, and Zeke Berry need good performances if Michigan does not want to get shredded through the air.
Key Players for Arkansas State
The star of Arkansas State’s offense is quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who won the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year award. He is a tantalizing dual-threat quarterback who challenges the teams he faces and game-planning. While accuracy is an issue, his athleticism and big-play ability must be accounted for.
Wide receiver Corey Rucker is averaging over 100 yards per game and is playing like one of the best receivers in the country. The fifth-year player has had two productive seasons and cemented himself as Raynor’s favorite target.
Defensively, the Red Wolves struggle. They struggle to generate edge pressure at a high rate. However, linebacker Charles Willekes is the leader of this defense and is able to rack up tackles. Safety Trevio Thomas is their second-best defensive player, already recording an interception on the year. Willekes and Thomas’ presence on this defense cannot be understated.
Keys for Michigan to Win
Overall, the keys for this game center around Michigan gaining more confidence heading into their Big Ten schedule. They must get their performance back on track to win a Big Ten championship and make the playoffs.
Win The Turnover Margin
Arkansas State has a -2 turnover margin on the season. Forcing and capitalizing on turnovers to give the offense favorable field position will be extremely important for the Michigan Wolverines defense.
The defense struggled to create explosive plays versus Texas, so getting back on track here would be essential for the game and season. Michigan has also turned the ball over a lot this season. Limiting those is vital for the offense to gain more confidence, especially heading into a brutal Big Ten schedule soon
Give Davis Warren More Confidence
Warren lacks confidence right now. He struggles to throw the ball down the field, and the offense is often slow and stagnant. Getting Warren into a rhythm quickly in this game is one of the most essential elements of the season.
This is a perfect “get right” game for Warren as he looks to build confidence in this offense. It will also ease the fans as they see their starting quarterback deliver difficult throws confidently.
If Warren can come out as more of a gunslinger rather than a timid pocket passer, it will do wonders for Michigan’s season-long outlook. A strong performance here will give Warren a more clear-cut role as the starting quarterback for this team and less resistance from the more athletic and flashy Alex Orji.
Generate Pass Rush at an Elite Level
Michigan had the best defense in the country last year due to its live defense and ability to generate pressure. The pass rush has been the identity of this team since 2023, and against Texas, it was almost as if that identity had vanished.
The defensive line should outmatch Arkansas State’s offensive line, and get back on track with pressuring the quarterback and forcing him to throw off the platform is vital. If the defensive line gains more confidence and produces at a higher level, it will allow the rest of the defense to play better and more freely.
A strong defensive line allows the Michigan Wolverines to truly showcase their potential as one of the best defenses in the country.
