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Michigan football’s quarterback struggles exposed in blowout loss to Texas, ending 29-game win streak

Saturday’s performance was the worst since the Wisconsin game in 2020

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 07: Jerrick Gibson #9 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (Gregory Shamus, 2024 Getty Images)

ANN ARBOR,Mich. – Davis Warren and the Michigan Wolverines looked outmanned and overmatched against the Texas Longhorns as they marched up and down the field, losing embarrassingly 31-12.

With the embarrassing loss, Michigan ended its current winning streak of 16 games and its home regular-season winning streak of 29 consecutive games, which was the longest in the history of the Big Ten Conference.

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The defeat also ended their home winning at 23, the second-longest in the nation and the third-longest in program history during the 1969-1973 years under Bo Schembechler.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 07: Jerrick Gibson #9 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (2024 Getty Images)

The Longhorns opened the game with an 8:58 drive that ended in a missed field goal, a 4:14 touchdown drive, an 8:24 touchdown drive, and a 2:40 field goal drive to take the Maize-Out crowd out of the game early.

Michigan got the ball back to try to revive the crowd, and tight end Colston Loveland fumbled while running Scott-free down the field amid a first down attempt.

That drive ended in another touchdown by Texas with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter, giving Texas a 24-3 lead into the half, and the snowball effect kept going downhill from there.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 07: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (2024 Getty Images)

Michigan had the ball for a total of 10:54 on five drives, with Warren completing 8-11 for 49 yards and an ill-advised interception in the first half alone.

At one point in the third quarter, Warren completed 9-16 passes for 75 yards. He finished the game in garbage time, completing 22-33 passes for 204 yards and two interceptions.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 07: Davis Warren #16 of the Michigan Wolverines scrambles during the third quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (2024 Getty Images)

Orji can’t complete a pass to more than five yards, and Warren can’t move the offense down the field.

At this point, to save the season, Michigan should let Jaden Davis get a turn because all of this dinking and dunking will turn this season upside down quickly.

The Wolverines coaching staff committed malpractice this offseason by placing this team on the field, knowing they didn’t have the horses to race with top-tier teams like the Longhorns.

To go the whole offseason telling anyone who would listen that they have two quarterbacks in a battle was totally false.

For two weeks now, the Wolverines quarterback play has been null-in-void, to say the least, as neither guy can complete a pass to save their lives.

Not bringing in another guy to compete with what they have in the locker room was utterly irresponsible for the whole program.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 07: Head Football Coach Sherrone Moore (L) and Davis Warren #16 of the Michigan Wolverines chat during a timeout in the first half of a college football game against the Texas Longhorns at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) (2024 Aaron J. Thornton)

The last time Michigan trailed this large at the half at home was against the Wisconsin Badgers at 28-0. They went on to lose 49-11.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 14: Danny Davis III #7 of the Wisconsin Badgers scores a second half touchdown past Carlo Kemp #2 of the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)

Before that, they gave up 28 points to Ohio State in 2019. They also got boat raced at home in that one, losing 56-27.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 30: K.J. Hill #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a third quarter touchdown as Josh Metellus #14 of the Michigan Wolverines defends at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) (2019 Getty Images)

Ewers, on the other hand, looked like a man against boys on the gridiron as he came into Ann Arbor and planted his flag against one of the best defenses in the nation.

He ended the game by completing 24-36 for 246 and three touchdowns.

He hit tight end Gunner Helm early and often, catching seven passes for 98 yards and a beautiful 22-yard touchdown in the first half.

Wide receiver Matthew Golden caught six passes for 41 yards and a touchdown and running back Jaydon Blue caught six passes for 37 yards and another touchdown to thoroughly lay the smackdown in front of the Michigan faithful.

Where does Michigan go from here? Would you like to see another quarterback change next week?

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 07: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns looks to pass during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (2024 Getty Images)

About the Author

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.

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