Historic nightmare: Sherrone Moore Team in danger of bad start” According to recent matche preview update…
The Longhorns will venture deep into enemy territory on September 7, just two weeks into the 2024 football season, to face their toughest non-conference foe thus far: the Michigan Wolverines, the reigning national champions.
Texas, who just finished their finest season since the CFP era, is one victory away from playing for a national championship. This victory was a showcase of Texas’ promise for the forthcoming football season, even though it was not the result of many things, including Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.’s remarkable ability to not miss a throw that evening and a few self-inflicted injuries by the Longhorns.
Texas lost some of its most important players to the NFL draft following its 2023 campaign. T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, two defensive tackle titans, were among these impact players. Along with wide receivers Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Jordan Whittington, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, and running back Jonathan Brooks, the Longhorns also lost important playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.
Michigan is also suffering from losses. Having had the most players drafted into the NFL this past year, the Wolverines have a lot of holes to fill on both sides of the ball. Michigan not only faces player changes on the field but also on the sideline. Perhaps the biggest loss for Michigan this offseason was head coach Jim Harbaugh, who left after his first national championship victory. After Harbaugh moved on from Michigan to join the LA Chargers, so did most of the coaching staff, leaving newly appointed head coach Sherrone Moore to pick up the pieces and reassemble a stellar sideline.
Who sits under center for the Wolverines is still up in the air, with sophomore quarterback Alex Orji seemingly the front-runner. Orji is described as the most athletic quarterback currently on the roster at 6-foot-3 and 236 lbs., but he has a deep depth chart of competition if he wants to be J.J. McCarthy’s successor this season. If he does get the nod from Moore, the Longhorns will have to face a quarterback whose only experience on the field thus far has been as a rusher with limited snap counts, 21 rush attempts and only one pass attempt. Though they have lost some of their starters on the offensive line, Orji could prove to be a challenge to a Texas defense that can no longer rely on Sweat and Murphy’s power to contain a quarterback.
Texas benefits from a steady hand under center in junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, whose experience could prove his greatest asset this season. As Ewers deals with a revamped offense and high expectations due to last season’s success, a win against Michigan early in the year could help define the rest of the season for the Longhorns. Ewers will look to rely on sophomore running back CJ Baxter and junior running back Jaydon Blue for help in the backfield. Blue and Baxter took on bigger roles with the team last season after star running back Brooks tore his ACL.
Texas will be traveling to Michigan in early September, making the home field Michigan’s greatest advantage. The Wolverines have an active home winning streak of 22 games, and “The Big House” can be a harsh environment for visiting teams. Texas will look to take advantage of a Michigan roster that has been upended and a quarterback who lacks experience in the starting role, whoever it may be, come game time.
