Texas proved it’s a nationwide title contender at Michigan. Can the Wolverines get well?

By Austin Meek, Chris Vannini and Sam Khan Jr.

Texas solidified its standing as a nationwide title contender by going to Michigan and dominating final yr’s champion 31-12 behind three takeaways from the protection and a robust efficiency from quarterback Quinn Ewers.

The No. 3 Longhorns ended the No. 10 Wolverines’ 23-game residence successful streak, which dated again to November 2020, and it was Michigan’s first regular-season loss since October 2021.

Texas pulled forward 24-3 within the first half and didn’t look again, as Michigan didn’t rating a landing till the ultimate two minutes. What did the consequence imply and what’s subsequent?

Texas is a legit nationwide title menace

The Longhorns got here into the season with loads of preseason hype and a top-five rating within the polls, however some remaining skeptics puzzled whether or not Texas can be a one-hit surprise after going to the School Soccer Playoff final yr. Saturday made it clear that Texas is for actual.

Ewers gave his 2024 Heisman Trophy marketing campaign a giant enhance by masterfully managing the sport. He was nails on third down, he was correct and he took care of the ball. He hit huge performs downfield when the Longhorns wanted it and appears just like the chief the Longhorns mentioned he was turning into this offseason. He completed 24-of-36 for 246 yards and three touchdowns with zero turnovers.

However there’s a lot else to love about these Longhorns. The ability place expertise round Ewers is plentiful and dynamic. The protection remains to be among the finest within the nation. Steve Sarkisian, referred to as one of many sport’s finest play callers, excelled in calling Saturday’s recreation.

Texas’ dominance could say as a lot about how down Michigan is because it does about how good the Longhorns are. However there’s little doubt that this UT squad will probably be a pressure shifting ahead because it enters its first season within the SEC. — Khan

What does Texas’ path to the Playoff seem like?

Passing their first huge check in dominating the defending nationwide champions, the Longhorns have positioned themselves effectively for a run to a 12-team CFP, particularly given the additional margin for error. Texas entered Saturday with an 80 % likelihood to make the CFP, per The Athletic’s mannequin, and now it’s as much as 89 % after Saturday’s early video games.

The Longhorns will get a reprieve the following few weeks with UTSA and ULM at residence, adopted by Mississippi State in Austin as effectively. They get a key idle week earlier than the large two-game stretch with the Pink River Rivalry recreation towards Oklahoma in Dallas adopted by a house recreation towards Georgia in mid-October.

Journeys to Arkansas and Texas A&M in November will produce hostile environments, however with a quarterback in Ewers who’s now gained at Alabama and at Michigan in his profession, Texas is feeling good about its CFP probabilities earlier than it even will get into its first season of SEC play. — Vannini

Michigan’s issues are worse than anticipated

A step again was inevitable after final season, however hardly anybody anticipated Michigan to fall this far, this quick. Give credit score to Texas, among the finest groups in school soccer. There’s no disgrace in shedding to a top-five opponent as proficient because the Longhorns, however to get run off of its residence area on this approach reveals simply how far Michigan has to go beneath first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.

Even with out Jim Harbaugh plus J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and different stars from final yr, the Wolverines believed they’d the items to contend for a bid within the expanded 12-team Playoff, particularly on protection. That supposedly fearsome protection acquired defanged by Texas. The Longhorns discovered the weak spots and attacked, exploiting Michigan’s new starters at linebacker and cornerback. The offensive struggles have been predictable, but when the Wolverines can’t depend on their protection, what can they depend on?

Primarily based on what we noticed Saturday, it’s exhausting to ascertain this Michigan staff significantly contending for a CFP bid. The Wolverines have a tricky schedule and will wrestle to win eight video games except they’ll make some fast changes. Their CFP probabilities fell from 25 % to 12 % after the loss, per The Athletic’s mannequin. — Meek

Is Michigan’s QB scenario fixable?

Within the brief time period, it won’t be.

Starter Davis Warren didn’t present a lot proof that he’s able to main a passing assault that may give Michigan an opportunity towards the most effective groups on its schedule. Warren’s accuracy was questionable at instances, and his two interceptions have been expensive. Warren in the end completed 22 of 33 for 204 yards with one landing and two interceptions, however he had solely 49 yards within the first half. If Michigan had any hope that Alex Orji may very well be a greater possibility, he absolutely would have had a much bigger function. The best way Michigan used Orji, deploying him in apparent operating conditions, didn’t generate a lot optimism for a two-quarterback system. He was held to -1 yard on two rushes.

Jack Tuttle was upgraded to questionable this week and will problem for the job if and when he’s wholesome. If Michigan’s quarterback struggles proceed, followers will probably be clamoring for freshman Jadyn Davis to get a shot. Proper now, there’s no apparent repair for the Wolverines. — Meek

How Texas reloaded

One of many causes to take a wait-and-see method to this yr’s Longhorns was the sheer quantity of elite expertise they misplaced: 11 gamers from the 2023 roster have been chosen within the NFL Draft. However Saturday showcased how effectively Sarkisian and his workers have recruited and developed gamers in addition to how neatly the Longhorns have used the switch portal.

Want to exchange three beginning receivers? Texas acquired Isaiah Bond (Alabama switch), Matthew Golden (Houston), Silas Bolden (Oregon State) and signed five-star recruit Ryan Wingo. Bond, Golden and Wingo all made key performs on Saturday and Bolden serves as the first return possibility on particular groups.

At tight finish, the place Texas misplaced electrical tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders to the draft, senior Gunnar Helm confirmed how his persistence has paid off. Principally a job participant in his first two years on campus, Helm has progressively developed right into a extra outstanding function and was Ewers’ safety blanket on Saturday, catching a team-high seven passes for 98 yards. 4 of Helm’s receptions resulted in a primary down, together with one which was a landing.

Working again Jonathon Brooks was one other robust loss, made even harder when sophomore starter CJ Baxter and freshman Christian Clark have been misplaced in coaching camp to season-ending accidents. And Jaydon Blue, who began the primary two video games at operating again, acquired banged up and left briefly within the first half Saturday. No drawback for Texas, which turned to Tre Wisner and Jerrick Gibson to fill the void.

The most important query coming into the season for Texas was changing the stout defensive position duo of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. Texas had skilled choices to show to in Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins, who’ve been constant rotational gamers in recent times, and Sarkisian additionally signed a number of defensive linemen within the portal, like Jermayne Lole, Tiaoalii Savea and Invoice Norton to fortify depth. Broughton plugged up the center successfully within the run recreation on Saturday and thus far, it doesn’t look like there was an enormous drop off in Texas’ run protection. That’s an encouraging signal for what will probably be a very powerful place group in SEC play.

Past these key spots, one factor is obvious: Texas is huge and quick nearly all over the place. — Khan

discovered ’em 🎯🤘@QuinnEwers ➡️ @gunnar_helm pic.twitter.com/V4sxFkKFsE

— Texas Soccer (@TexasFootball) September 7, 2024

O-line was Longhorns’ unsung hero

A lot was made about how the Texas offensive line would deal with Michigan’s entrance, significantly Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, however the Longhorns neutralized them. Texas ran the ball successfully and guarded Ewers, who wasn’t sacked and didn’t face constant strain. Senior heart Jake Majors did an impeccable job of managing the calls in a loud, robust highway setting.

It wasn’t good — proper sort out Cam Williams had a holding penalty that negated Ewers landing go on the primary possession and there have been just a few false begin penalties — however the O-line was in any other case spectacular. That unit went from one of many staff’s weak hyperlinks when Sarkisian took over in 2021 to progressively higher annually and one of many staff’s actual strengths now. — Khan

(Prime photograph: Gregory Shamus / Getty Pictures)