NCAAF · 1 year ago

Breaking Down Texas’ Blowout Win Over Michigan: 10 Takeaways

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

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Quinn Ewers Building Early Heisman Case
How can you not look at Quinn Ewers as a legitimate Heisman threat after his performance against one of the top defenses in the country this week? Ewers did everything asked of him and more on Saturday and sits with 506 passing yards, six touchdowns, and one interception through two games. Few quarterbacks can pick apart a defense like Michigan's, and Ewers demonstrated he's at the top of that list. Not only is Ewers contending for the Heisman, but he's also putting himself in the conversation for the top quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Heisman Odds: +500

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Longhorns Wideouts Make Big Plays When Needed
Although none of their final numbers will stand out on paper, the Texas Longhorns receiving core did the job when called upon in prominent spots on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor. With multiple graduates moving to the NFL, the Longhorns had question marks about their wideouts this year. With a performance like this against a defense like that, those questions have essentially been put to rest now.
Andrew Mukuba Shines in Longhorns Secondary
One of the question marks we had this season about the Texas Longhorns was how their secondary would hold up. There were some new pieces on defense for this group, including Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba. It was pretty clear that Mukuba wanted to make a statement on Saturday, and that's precisely what he did, highlighting his potential to lead this secondary with six tackles and an interception. More performances like this will affirm the Longhorns' status as a contender.
Steve Sarkisian Shows up for the Moment
We should probably start giving Steve Sarkisian more respect after leading Texas to the College Football Playoff last year and now pulling off a significant victory in Week 2 of the regular season. There are some great head coaches in the college football landscape, and Sarkisian is proving right in the mix as a top option. Although he might not be the leader in the clubhouse, he's certainly in the conversation. More victories like Saturday's will only establish that notion more.
Longhorns Make Case as Top Team in Country
With a top-ten road victory now under their belts, the Texas Longhorns are building a case as the top team in the country this season. There will be many arguments from Georgia and Ohio State, but Texas' victory over Michigan solidifies that this program is ready to meet expectations in 2024. With an elite offensive line, a Heisman candidate quarterback, and a defense already making early strides, the Longhorns are here to stay as a national title threat.

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Davis Warren Struggles
It's hard to get super excited about what we've seen out of Davis Warren as Michigan's starting quarterback. The Longhorns' defense made Warren consistently uncomfortable in this matchup, leading to multiple turnovers and difficult reads. You can see some of the reasons that the Wolverines coaching staff is giving Warren some leash as their starter, but the entire offense didn't exactly inspire any confidence in this matchup, and that started and ended with the first-year quarterback.
Michigan Couldn't Establish the Run
We know that the Wolverines' bread and butter on offense has to be their running game. On Saturday afternoon, they struggled to muster up momentum, which isn't something we're accustomed to saying about this team. Maybe we're stuck in the past and thinking about what they accomplished on the ground during their national championship last year. In their first big test of the season, the Wolverines fell behind early and couldn't establish any momentum on the ground. Even though we won't see them find success at the same clip as last year, they need to be much better than they were on Saturday moving forward.
Offense Will Go as Colston Loveland Takes It
It was another strong day for tight end Colston Loveland. Through two games this season, Loveland has tallied 16 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. Loveland has proven to be a successful safety blanket for a young Michigan quarterback room. Despite emphasizing running the football, it might not be the worst idea to get Loveland more involved in the game plan early on for the Wolverines.
Wolverines Lost Battle in the Trenches
It's hardly a secret that the strength of this Michigan team is in the trenches, or at least we thought it was. With multiple players on Michigan's defensive line, namely Mason Graham, expected to be taken high in the 2025 NFL Draft, you would have thought they'd have put up a better fight in this physical matchup vs. Texas. Yes, the Longhorns have one of the top offensive lines in the country, but Michigan was utterly outclassed in the trenches, which wasn't what we've grown to expect from this unit.
Moment Too Big for Sherrone Moore?
With the foundation that Jim Harbaugh helped build at Michigan, even when he was suspended last year, it's fair to ask if Sherrone Moore has the same ability to get the most out of this group. Sure, Moore helped lead the Wolverines to a victory against Ohio State last year, but it wasn't as though Harbaugh wasn't highly involved in the game plan despite not being allowed on the sideline. After a letdown in his big first spot with full control, it's fair to ask if Moore has the upside to be the next great Wolverines head coach.

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Check out The Smylie Show on SportsGrid
Quinn Ewers Building Early Heisman Case
How can you not look at Quinn Ewers as a legitimate Heisman threat after his performance against one of the top defenses in the country this week? Ewers did everything asked of him and more on Saturday and sits with 506 passing yards, six touchdowns, and one interception through two games. Few quarterbacks can pick apart a defense like Michigan's, and Ewers demonstrated he's at the top of that list. Not only is Ewers contending for the Heisman, but he's also putting himself in the conversation for the top quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Heisman Odds: +500

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Breaking Down Texas’ Blowout Win Over Michigan: 10 Takeaways

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