It’s the Michigan Wolverines (1-0) vs. the Texas Longhorns (1-0) in the big house on Saturday, September 7. Texas opens at a 6.5-point favorite. The game will be the weekly Fox Big Noon Kickoff matchup. Ann Arbor will host the Fox Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN College Gameday crew. This matchup between college football heavyweights can cement one of these teams as a prime national championship contender.
Michigan vs. Texas – Matchup History and Quotes
The Wolverines and Longhorns have only faced off once, with Texas winning that matchup in the 91st Rose Bowl. This game turned into an instant classic, one fans hope will repeat this year.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore is geared up and ready to play a tough Texas team. He had this to say about the challenge they pose.
“Coach Sark has done a really good job with the program,” began the Michigan head coach. “And, you know, on offense, they present challenges because the way he calls the game and what he does, his creativity, his rhythm … Their defense played very well. Sound, not very many mistakes. I think they have four returning starters on defense and they have guys that have played. So, super excited for Saturday.”
Texas is an incredibly tough team, but Moore is up to the challenge. This Michigan head coach is no stranger to big games vs. Texas, as he was once an offensive lineman for Oklahoma.
Moore also pointed out how the new offensive line struggled and mentioned they had to get out to a better start than they did against Fresno State.
“Yeah, never where you want it to be,” started Moore. “And I think it’s probably, you know, it’s got to get better. But I thought the attitude, I thought the strain was there. The details and the technique have to continue to get better. And that’s a product of your first game as an offensive line.”
Moore is well aware of the struggles that everyone saw, but he is confident that they can battle back and improve to be one of the top units in the country just as they were last year.
In his pregame press conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian also noted that the Texas offense needs to be prepared to attack a strong Michigan defense.
“You just start thinking about all the great defenses that have ever come along the way. Again, they’ve got good schemes, got good coaches,” said Moore. “You got pride in that defensive style, but yet, they’ve got some elite players, they got first-round draft picks on that defense, too, so it’s a heck of a challenge for us.” Texas is a team that wants to fly around offensively and create momentum through big chunk plays. Sarkisian knows that attacking this Michigan defense will be critical but extremely difficult.
Key Players for the Michigan Wolverines
Offensively, the players that will stand out the most for fans in Michigan are quarterbacks Davis Warren and Alex Orji. While Warren looked like the more comfortable passer, he offered less running upside than Orji. And yet while Orji looked incredibly strong in the run game, he was given limited opportunities to throw the ball. He also missed an easy throw against Fresno State. Managing those two quarterbacks will be essential for Michigan’s success.
Running back Kalel Mullings looked better than incumbent Donovan Edwards for Michigan last week. Mullings totaled 15 carries for 92 yards for an average of over six yards per carry. He’s a strong, physical runner who thrives between the tackles, and the former linebacker knows how to burst through holes.
Meanwhile Colston Loveland also cemented himself as Warren’s favorite target. Getting the tight end going early and often will be critical if Michigan hopes to get the ball moving early in their possessions.
Defensively, the defensive line stood out last week versus Fresno State. The group completely negated the Bulldogs’ run game. Defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant and linebackers Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Haussman stifled the run game. Josaiah Stewart had one of the best pass-rushing performances of any defense lineman in the country.
The Michigan secondary also capitalized on some huge mistakes, converting them into turnovers. The secondary stayed disciplined and kept plays in front of the sticks. Cornerback Will Johnson emphasized why he is the best cornerback in country, and other players such as Jyaire Hill, Makari Paige, and Zeke Berry showed why this Michigan secondary is going to be a tough unit to attack.
Key Players for the Texas Longhorns
Texas wants to run the ball; and after star running back C.J. Baxter’s injury, this is more important than ever. Running backs Jerrick Gibson and Jaydon Blue will have to get going early for the Longhorns offense to have a chance.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers is one of the most consistent and accurate in the nation. He plays nearly flawlessly in the Texas system and is poised for a tremendous season.
Lastly, wide receiver Isaiah Bond transferred in from Alabama last season and is one of the fastest players in the country. On top of that, five-star wide receiver Ryan Wingo made a name for himself early as the leading receiver last week versus Colorado State.
Defensive tackles Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton will have to shine early to stop this Michigan run game along with linebacker Anthony Hill, the team’s leading tackler at linebacker.
The Texas secondary is where the defense truly shines. Malik Muhammad and Jahdae Barron are two of the best corners in the nation, and Michael Taaffe is a very good safety. Where the defense line struggles, the secondary more than makes up for it in its talent and production.
Keys for Michigan to Win
The Offensive Line Needs to Improve Run-Blocking
The offensive line could have played better against Fresno State, and it showed. The run game got very little going early in the game.
As they started to wear down Fresno State, Mullings was able to get going. However, the Wolverines can’t afford to wait until the second half of the game to have rushing success. Against a Texas defensive line that lost its best players to the draft last year and did not grade out well versus a bad Colorado State team, Michigan has to assert itself early and often in the run game.
Stop the Run
Just as Michigan wants to run the ball, so does Texas. Texas prides itself on being a dominant run team, setting up easy windows for Ewers to hit their immensely talented receivers. However, Michigan has one of the best run defenses in the country, highlighted by an elite defensive line and linebacker tandem. This unit should be able to stop the Texas run game, and forcing Ewers to convert long third-downs is the key to success for the Wolverines.
Will Johnson Needs to Show Up
Will Johnson made a huge play for Michigan against Fresno State to ice the game, but he has to do the same vs. Texas. Bond, Wingo, and Matthew Golden will all be enormous challenges for the Michigan secondary.
For Johnson to lock down his side of the field will make the secondary’s job that much easier. If he can shut down Bond or Wingo on the outside, it will eliminate key deep threats that Texas will want to capitalize on.
Final Score Prediction: 24-21 Michigan
