College football teams No. 10 Michigan and No. 3 Texas are set to face each other for only the second time in history on Saturday, marking an exciting clash between the Big Ten and the SEC. Their first encounter was a thrilling Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2005, where Texas narrowly defeated Michigan 38-37 with a last-second field goal.
Nearly two decades later, the two schools will compete in Michigan Stadium for the first time. Both teams were part of last year’s College Football Playoff, which Michigan won. They nearly met in the playoffs, but Texas lost to Washington in a close semifinal match.
Despite being the reigning national champions and playing at home, Michigan enters this matchup as the underdog due to significant offseason changes, including the departure of Coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers and the selection of 13 players from their undefeated roster in the 2024 NFL Draft. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was promoted to head coach, introducing new players across the program.
In contrast, Texas returns its head coach, both coordinators, and a star quarterback from last year’s 12-2 season. This continuity could give the Longhorns an advantage, but they will have to perform in a hostile atmosphere.
Live updates for the Texas vs. Michigan game can be accessed through various platforms.
The game details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Michigan Stadium — Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV: Fox | Live stream: fubo (trial available)
Fans have a chance to save on their first month of Fubo, with promotional pricing available.
In this matchup, the quarterback situation poses a stark contrast. Texas features two former top quarterbacks, starter Quinn Ewers and backup Arch Manning. Michigan, however, underwent a more competitive selection process, with walk-on Davis Warren earning the starting job after a commendable performance in their opening game against Fresno State.
Michigan’s offensive identity continues to focus on running the ball. The effectiveness of their running game will be tested against Texas’s defense. In their opening victory over Fresno State, Michigan’s leading running backs averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but many plays fell short against a team not notably strong in run defense.
Both conferences are vying for bragging rights after an earlier Big Ten victory when USC defeated LSU, while the SEC struggled in its initial matchups against other power conferences. A victory for Michigan would bolster the Big Ten’s claims of superiority.
As for predictions, signs from Michigan’s win over Fresno State suggest limited offensive firepower for the Wolverines going forward. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will face significant challenges on the road, and both teams are expected to find scoring difficult. Many analysts predict a low-scoring game.
With uncertainty surrounding performance on both sides, many are leaning towards a close contest, highlighting the difficulty of predicting the outcome confidently.