Texas won the coin toss and directly took the ball right down the field. They converted on three first downs and almost a fourth if not for a holding penalty on a touchdown pass. Bert Auburn shanked a 43-yarder and gave the ball to Michigan football which abruptly went three and out. Texas drove down the field again and this time made it count with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Gunnar Helm.
Michigan football got on the board with a field goal and was shut out for the rest of the half. The Longhorns scored the next 17 unanswered to take a commanding 24-3 lead into the break. The Wolverines had two turnovers during that span as well.
Michigan lost to a Texas team that looked faster and stronger all day on Saturday.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 7, 2024
Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns had the Wolverines looking at a past version of themselves, and mistakes didn't help. pic.twitter.com/5sFkPFjbCZ
In the second half, Michigan's offense was dragging through the mud again. They could only muster another field goal, while Texas added one more trip to the endzone for good measure. Michigan football rallied for a late touchdown in garbage time to make the score look a little less humiliating. The loss was reminiscent of the 2021 Orange Bowl loss to Georgia.
Here are three of the takeaways from the first regular-season loss since October of 2021.
1. Steve Sarkisian completely outcoached Wink Martindale
From the opening drive coach Sarkisian had his way with Michigan's defense. He utilized his backs in the passing game, even without their best one available. Gunnar Helm outplayed Colston Loveland. But the most impressive performance came from Quinn Ewers who looked like a Heisman frontrunner on Saturday.
Martindale had no way of fixing things, especially in the passing game. Texas did have a short field on two of their scoring drives, but they still were able to penetrate a notoriously stingy defense. Ryan Wingo had their longest play from scrimmage which set up their final touchdown of the blowout. The coaches tried to rotate defenders so they wouldn't tire out, but it was to no avail.
Wink Martindale inherited one of the most talented defenses in America and made them average
— PT (@talpostal) September 7, 2024
Texas won't be the fastest offense that Michigan faces this year. Quinn Ewers might not even be the best quarterback that they meet up with either, but Texas might be the most dangerous team that Michigan battles all season long.
2. Davis Warren is in over his head
It's hard to imagine in this day and age of college football that Michigan couldn't or didn't want to add a transfer quarterback via the portal in the offseason. They believed that they had their man on the roster and didn't need to go that route. After two games in, they may be rethinking that notion.
Alex Orji was the presumed starter for months, until we learned that he can't throw in a game that counts. That's where Warren came in and won the job at the last minute. They could have had their pick of the litter in the portal, but instead made the first catastrophic mistake of the Sherrone Moore era.
Warren's inexperience has shown in the first two weeks, but coach Moore is not ready to make a quarterback change. He said after the game that Warren will remain the starter, but the secret is out that Alex Orji can't throw and Jadyn Davis is nowhere ready to contribute. Jack Tuttle was questionable today and didn't play.
I know Davis Warren's backstory but it is wild that every team in the country is pulling out every possible stop to secure a blue-chip or proven vet from the portal and the defending champs alone are like "we're good with the walk-on who has never played"
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) September 7, 2024
Warren made one really bad throw where he locked in on Colston Loveland, but Loveland didn't even turn around to catch the ball and the pass was easily intercepted. The other turnover was not all Warren's fault as it was tipped and fell into the arms of a Texas defender.
His best throws on the day were when he was scrambling. A couple of 50/50 balls to Loveland and a hail mary to Semaj Morgan that he stretched his way across the goal line for the only six of the afternoon. Perhaps Warren and the offense have to play with a higher sense of urgency like they are always trailing to fully ignite the offense.
3. Donovan Edwards is not who we thought he was
Through two games in the 2024 season "The Don" doesn't even have 100 total yards of offense. Blame can go to him for trying to hit a home run on every play or it can also be put on the coaches for not using him properly.
Michigan's offense is at its height when they have a bell cow running back. Edwards is more of a do it all type, but Kalel Mullings and Ben Hall are more of the punishers that fit the system. Mullings reverted back to his old self and Hall displayed enough to earn more playing time. Edwards should not be on the bench for long spells like he has been through two weeks.
I remember how Donovan Edwards was damn near the best player on Michigans offense last year a few games and now he doesn’t even touch the ball on this terrible offense.
— Money Mike (@MrColes5) September 7, 2024
Michigan is not a team that can get behind too far and make a comeback. They don't have the quarterback to do that so they have to run the football with their talented backs to get and stay ahead. After Texas went up 7-0, Michigan was moving it with Edwards and they went away from it. I realize they couldn't stop the Longhorns, but Edwards nearly broke one that would have tied it at seven instead of settling for a field goal.