5. After Michigan’s victory over Fresno State, it appeared as though Kalel Mullings would take over as the team’s workhorse running back. Mullings managed just six carries for 25 yards against Texas.
That was mostly due to Michigan’s incapacity to maintain drives, an issue they also had against Fresno State. In Week 1 and Week 2, the Wolverines ran 61 and 56 plays, respectively. This indicates that Michigan’s offense isn’t able to wear down the opposition, and that Michigan’s defense is on the field a lot.
Against Texas, Mullings and Edwards averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Michigan gained 4.6 yards per pass attempt on average during the first three quarters of play. By committing to the run, Michigan can force the opposition to tackle Mullings and Edwards thirty times per game, which should pay off in the fourth quarter.
6. It was evident that the Longhorns had a strategy to avoid Will Johnson and go for Jayaire Hill. And they did, early and often, assault him. It is hoped that, playing against one of the top quarterback-wide receiver tandems Michigan will see all season, this was a trial-by-fire match for a young cornerback.
Moore remarked of Hill, “They made some plays over there, but he bounced back, especially in the second half.” “I was incredibly pleased with him and his work.”
Transfer to AlbanyLate in the first half, Aamir Hall entered the game and conceded a touchdown pass while in coverage. With the exception of Ryan Wingo’s 55-yard reverse, Michigan contained Texas’ explosive plays better in the second half when they returned to Hill.
You can guarantee that Lincoln Riley and USC will monitor the Texas game and devise a plan to take advantage of Hill if he continues to start. It will be interesting to see how he handles this game.
7. The Michigan defense had a difficult day, and in the end, Wink Martindale will have to find the solutions. It would seem reasonable that Martindale is still determining how much complexity Michigan’s players can handle after 20 years in the NFL. The solution may be the same for both the offensive and the defense: identify your strengths, focus on them, and expand from there.
The fact that Martindale and previous defensive coordinator Don Brown enjoy blitzing is where the comparison between the two men begins and ends. Not only was Brown criticized for being overly aggressive, but his defense was also criticized for being overly simplistic and effective mainly against Michigan’s better athletes. Nobody will likely criticize Martindale’s defense for being overly straightforward. If anything, Michigan might perhaps be attempting to take on too much.
With Texas already behind them, Michigan will have a talent advantage over many of the remaining opponents on its schedule. Nothing very unusual has to be done by the Wolverines. All they need is for their outstanding players to produce.
Texas showed at Michigan that it is a serious contender for the national title. Will the Wolverines bounce back?
8. Saturday wasn’t too good for Michigan, but it could have been worse. Consider Notre Dame. While the Fighting Irish, who were four-touchdown favorites against Northern Illinois, had by far the worst showing of the weekend, a number of other teams—including Penn State and Iowa—regressed from their Week 1 performances. Nobody feels unbeatable outside of the top three.
Although Texas’s complete dominance over Michigan was unexpected, the outcome itself wasn’t stunning. Nobody anticipated Michigan to win every game. How Michigan will react to suffering its first regular-season loss since 2021 has been a mystery from the beginning.
Safety Quinten Johnson remarked, “I know a lot of guys on the team aren’t used to being in this position, but it’s adversity.” “How are you going to handle that as a man? You clean it out and proceed. We are in Week 2. That’s a fantastic aspect of our itinerary and the upcoming opportunity.
Michigan’s next major opportunity is against USC on September 21. All of a sudden, it appears like a huge matchup between the underperforming Michigan team and the overachieving USC team. The Wolverines have a week to prepare for Arkansas State in between. Better yet, make it matter.
1. Upon rewatching the game and reviewing the postgame remarks, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is Michigan being truthful with itself about how this game transpired?
Following the game, Sherrone Moore and the players discussed how Michigan could have been right up with Texas if not for a few mishaps. Here is an example:
Moore: “I believe it’s simple to address the turnovers. In the event that you lack those, the situation becomes distinct.
“That’s a closer game in the fourth quarter,” said Davis Warren. “We do some things differently, I do some things differently.”
Moore: “I thought our guys gave it their all.” All we need to do is improve in those small areas.
2. While I understand that what is said in front of the cameras doesn’t always match what is said behind closed doors, I would prefer it if coaches and players were always honest with the media. It would certainly make my life easier. For the benefit of all, I hope the Wolverines don’t think they were only a few plays away from winning this game. Considering that I didn’t see that game.
Texas outgained Michigan 279 yards to 88 at halftime, leading to a 24-3 advantage. In the fourth quarter, Michigan accounted for nearly two thirds of its passing yards. In every significant aspect of this game, the Longhorns outperformed Michigan, and they had the opportunity to win by a larger margin.
Meek: Texas demolishing the Big House ushers in Michigan’s new era.
3. I’m not saying that to write Michigan off or declare the season finished. It’s not. One game versus one of the top three college football teams was all that was played. Michigan can play much better than it did on Saturday, and some of its errors were self-inflicted.
It’s okay if the Wolverines feel that there was another way the game on Saturday could have ended. As long as they acknowledge the difficulty of moving from where they are to where they want to be, they are free to express whatever they choose. It won’t be as simple as clearing out one or two small items. Every single one of them needs to improve.
4. A week can be used to solve some issues. A few may be resolved by midseason. Some may take till the following year to be corrected.
Since the first kind is the easiest to handle, let’s start there. What performance against Arkansas State on Saturday is necessary for Michigan to regain confidence before USC visits Michigan Stadium in two weeks?
The Wolverines must first identify their offensive identity. They must resume their dominant ball-running style. Warren was under even greater pressure to lead the offense against Texas as Michigan almost abandoned the quarterback run game. It doesn’t seem like the ideal way to utilize Alex Orji’s skills. Michigan should mix Orji in on early downs to push the opposition to respect his arm and legs rather than using him in clear-cut short-yardage scenarios.