Michigan secured a victory over Arkansas State at home, thanks to a standout performance from their running backs.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 17th-ranked Wolverines found themselves facing a challenge at quarterback as they defeated Arkansas State 28-18 on Saturday. Kalel Mullings recorded a career-high 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns, helping Michigan overcome Davis Warren’s three interceptions.
Despite expectations to dominate the Sun Belt Conference team, the Wolverines (2-1) struggled to distance themselves, due in part to Warren’s throwing errors in the early quarters. “Put the ball in harm’s way too many times and we made a change,” said Michigan coach Sherrone Moore.
Warren was replaced by Alex Orji, who made an immediate impact by throwing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Hogan Hansen, extending Michigan’s lead to 28-3 early in the fourth quarter. “He played well,” Moore remarked.
Warren completed 11 of 14 passes for 122 yards, primarily focusing on short throws rather than avoiding defensive coverage. “Not great stuff to put on film,” Moore added.
The running game proved more effective than the passing for the defending national champions. Michigan found the end zone three times on the ground, breaking a two-game drought in rushing touchdowns, which included last week’s defeat to then-No. 3 Texas.
“They controlled the football,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones noted. “It took us 10 possessions to force a three-and-out.”
The Red Wolves (2-1) managed to score two touchdowns late in the game, but they missed several early opportunities. Coach Jones emphasized, “We did a great job of taking the ball away defensively, but we had zero to show for it offensively.”
Arkansas State briefly narrowed the score to just four points in the second quarter after Clune Van Andel successfully kicked a 27-yard field goal. However, he missed on two other attempts, striking the uprights.
Jaylen Raynor, who completed 19 of 33 passes for 140 yards, nearly reduced the Wolverines’ 18-point lead but was intercepted late in the third quarter. Timmy McClain took over midway through the fourth, connecting on a 24-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Harden and later adding another touchdown right before the end of the game.
“We only had two explosive plays, and those were at the end of the game,” Jones commented.
In injury news, preseason All-American tight end Colston Loveland recorded three catches for 30 yards before leaving with an injury in the third quarter. Coach Moore did not provide an update on his status after the game.
The Red Wolves had an opportunity to extend their momentum on their opening drive but opted for a field-goal attempt that hit the upright.
Michigan initially chose Warren as their starting quarterback based on his preseason performance, but after another questionable outing, his position may be in jeopardy. Orji’s running ability adds a new dimension to a struggling offense, as he recorded three carries for 27 yards and achieved 12 passing yards with a touchdown.
The question remains as to who will lead the offense next week. “We’ll figure that out in practice,” Moore said.
Following this performance, Michigan may see a drop in the AP Top 25 rankings. They began the season at No. 9 but have since fallen following their loss to Texas.
Before the game, Michigan paid tribute to alumni James Earl Jones, who passed away earlier in the week, and celebrated the life of Greg Harden, another Michigan graduate who died shortly before the game.
Next up, Arkansas State will face No. 21 Iowa State, while Michigan prepares to host No. 11 Southern California for their Big Ten opener.