Texas Dominates Michigan, 31-12, in Battle of Powerhouses

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In a highly anticipated showdown between two college football giants, Quinn Ewers and the No. 3 Texas Longhorns made a statement, dismantling the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines, 31-12, on Saturday afternoon at The Big House. Ewers threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, as the Longhorns improved to 2-0 in their inaugural SEC season, showing they are legitimate contenders for both conference and national titles.

The Longhorns wasted no time taking control of the game, silencing the Michigan crowd early. Ewers connected on a 21-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Gunnar Helm in the first quarter to set the tone. Helm had a career day, hauling in seven catches for 98 yards in front of 15 NFL scouts.

On the ground, Texas dominated with a balanced attack, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and totaling 143 rushing yards. Jerrick Gibson added a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, widening the gap between the teams. By halftime, Texas led 24-3, and the game was never in doubt from there.

Michigan’s offense, meanwhile, struggled mightily. Davis Warren, filling in at quarterback, threw for 204 yards with a touchdown late in the game, but also had two costly interceptions. Tight end Colston Loveland caught eight passes for 70 yards but fumbled on a crucial possession, emblematic of Michigan’s struggles. The Wolverines, who came into the game with a 29-game regular-season winning streak, were unable to generate any consistent rhythm on offense.

Texas' defense held strong throughout, preventing Michigan from finding the end zone until the final minutes of the game when Warren connected with Semaj Morgan for a 31-yard touchdown. By then, the game was well out of reach.

Ewers' 7-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue in the third quarter sealed the win, capping off a stellar performance for the former Ohio State transfer. With his second consecutive game without an interception, Ewers continues to shine in Steve Sarkisian's offense, following up his 260-yard, three-touchdown performance against Colorado State last week.

Texas linebacker David Gbenda summed up the Longhorns' swagger after the game, attempting to plant the team's flag at midfield, though it fell short in sticking into the turf—a rare misstep on an otherwise flawless day for the Longhorns.

The Takeaway

Texas looks the part of a national championship contender, blending a high-powered offense with a stifling defense. On the other hand, Michigan may have questions at quarterback that linger for the rest of the season, as new head coach Sherrone Moore's decision not to add a signal-caller through the transfer portal may come back to haunt him.

Up Next

Texas will host UTSA next Saturday night, while Michigan aims to rebound against Arkansas State.