“Hail Yes!” reactions as Michigan’s football team moves past Fresno State with dominant defense
“Hail Yes!” co-hosts Tony Garcia and Rainer Sabin share their reactions as Michigan football moves past Fresno State with dominant defense on August 31, 2024
It’s the first top-10 matchup of the season. Two College Football Playoff participants from last season — who are competing again this year — meet in Ann Arbor when No. 9 Michigan hosts No. 3 Texas (noon, Fox). Follow live updates throughout the game.
Several Free Press sports journalists have made their selection between maize blue and burnt orange:
Michigan Football vs. Texas Predictions
Tony Garcia
It looks like there will be no rain, but it will feel like a crisp fall day in Ann Arbor, with highs in the 15s. Derek Jeter will be there as honorary captain for Michigan, while Matthew McConaughey is expected to show up and represent Texas. ESPN’s “College GameDay” and Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” will provide an incredible atmosphere as the defending national champions try to make a statement early in the season and fall just short. The selection: Texas 23, UM 19.
Carlos Monarrez
Well, that was fun. The Wolverines’ winning streak ends against the third-ranked Longhorns — and it’s not a pretty win. Texas crushed Colorado State 52-0, thanks to Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers, and the defense held the Rams to 25 passing yards at halftime, giving them a 31-0 lead. Michigan’s vaunted defense will be tested by Ewers, but if we see backup Arch Manning at quarterback at any point, we know things are out of control. The selection: Texas 27, UM 17.
THE LONGHORNS IN SEARCH OF: Michigan Football faces No. 3 Texas in Top 10 Showdown
Rainer Sabin
It’s hard to bet against a team that hasn’t lost at home since November 2020. But the defending national champions don’t look nearly as impressive as they did the past three years, when they went 40-3, became kings of the Big Ten and reached the top of college football. A disappointing performance in the Week 1 win over Fresno State exposed some vulnerabilities that a strong Texas team can exploit. The Longhorns, who reached the College Football Playoff last season, look more complete after beating Colorado State 52-0 in their opener.
With star quarterback Quinn Ewers and a fleet of speedy receivers, Texas has enough firepower to tear through Michigan. Don’t forget, this is the same team that went to Tuscaloosa in Week 2 a year ago and finished with a win over Nick Saban’s last Alabama team. That win over the then-No. 3 Crimson Tide proved that Texas is indeed backAnd now the Longhorns want to show the world that they are not going down so easily by defeating the champions. The selection: Texas 27, UM 17.
Jeff Seidel
Michigan will try to slow the game down with the running game, and defense is the only thing that can keep the Wolverines in the game. If Michigan’s defense can score — perhaps by pulling off another pick-six — or if the Wolverines can put together a massive special teams game, then they have a chance. But that seems unlikely: Texas is too fast and talented, and Michigan has too much to improve on offense to pull off an upset this early. The selection: Texas 20, UM 14.
Michael Windsor
The Longhorns have the best playmakers on offense and the better quarterback, and their defense should be better than last year. UM’s defense will keep the Wolverines in the game the whole time, and the offense will be just about enough with a couple of touchdowns and three field goals. The selection: Texas 27, UM 23.
